Salt Lake County election officials could get a legal opinion today saying whether they can replace the Republican nominee for county mayor, Nancy Workman, with Ivory on the Nov. 2 ballot. Workman, the beleaguered incumbent, withdrew from the race this week, and Republican leaders want Ivory to take her pivotal ballot spot.

But until the county lawyers say that the GOP certification of a new nominee passes muster, the county clerk's office is in limbo. Election workers are waiting to change the ballots, by either covering up Workman's name or replacing it with Ivory, but will not take any action until the attorneys give the OK.

Democratic Party leaders also are awaiting the decision.

State Democratic Chairman Donald Dunn says the party may sue to keep the ballot as is - with Workman's name covered up - because Dunn says Republicans are trying to manipulate the process.

"We're in a holding pattern" about whether to file suit, Dunn said Thursday.

The District Attorney's Office was evaluating the Republicans' request to replace Workman on Thursday. State Elections Director Amy Naccarato also was informally advising the clerk's office, along with assistant attorney general Thom Roberts.

"At this point, they [county election officials] have some decisions to make," Naccarato said.

Besides the Democratic Party, independent mayoral candidate Merrill Cook said he is considering a legal challenge to halt changing the ballot. The Democratic nominee for mayor, Peter Corroon, has criticized the move, but says he will not join any legal battle over a ballot change.

Observers say getting on the ballot will make Ivory a more viable candidate. A write-in candidate has not won a major race in Utah in recent memory. And Ivory will have had less than a month to campaign.

A ballot spot is "certainly going to help his bottom line in his number of votes," said Quin Monson, a Brigham Young University political scientist. "It's a safe assumption that it's a lower hurdle to get him elected."

Being on the ballot "would mean several percentage points on Election Night," Monson said.

A write-in campaign is fraught with dangers, such as voters forgetting to pencil in their choice or to place a sticker on the ballot envelope. And write-in candidates do not get straight-party votes, which could add thousands of votes to a contender.

Ivory entered the race on Oct. 5, saying that Workman had no chance to win. At the time, he was her honorary finance chairman.

Workman, who is on paid leave while facing two felony charges, denies any criminal wrongdoing, but she bowed out of the race this week, citing medical reasons.

tburr@sltrib.com

Bowing out for medical reasons

l What the law requires: The party's Central Committee may certify another candidate if its nominee "resigns because of becoming physically or mentally disabled as certified by a physician."

l What Nancy Workman's doctor said: "In my opinion, the strains upon her physical and emotional condition disable her from continuing as a political candidate without unreasonably [compromising] her health."

New Republican nominee Ellis Ivory doesn't plan to change his campaign signs or materials, even though most are aimed at getting voters to write him in on the ballot.

Republican leaders are attempting to get Ivory's name on the ballot, replacing incumbent Nancy Workman, who bowed out of the race.

If Ivory is on the ballot, there's no need for a write-in campaign, but Ivory spokesman Jim Bennett says it's too late to change some materials. "There are going to be a few rough edges; our rough edges still have pencils on them," Bennett said.

The campaign already has ordered hundreds of yard signs featuring pencils and the slogan "Write for you," but those won't be tossed, Bennett said. After all, he said, there are only 19 days left in the race.