GOP Central Committee members are expected to formally make write-in challenger Ellis Ivory their nominee tonight in an emergency meeting at the County Government Center, 2001 S. State.

Once that happens, County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, a Democrat, says she will put Ivory on the ballot. And then the Democratic Party will sue.

That leaves the ultimate decision about the ballot up to a district judge and, potentially, the Utah Supreme Court.

"I don't know how fast the courts can act," says Quin Monson, a Brigham Young University political scientist and associate director of the Center for Study of Elections and Democracy. "I hope they're gearing up so they can act quickly."

What happens in the next few days may prove pivotal to the eventual victor, observers say.

If Ivory gets on the ballot, it could help him clinch the mayor's post, given that some 50,000 people voted straight Republican four years ago. Those straight-party votes would not go to Ivory if he remains a write-in candidate.

If Ivory stays a write-in contender, that would help Democrat Peter Corroon, who would be one of three candidates listed on the ballot. The others are Merrill Cook, an unaffiliated hopeful who has not polled above 25 percent, and fringe candidate F. Joseph Irish, the Personal Choice nominee.

"It's very unfortunate that it may not be clear who the candidates are," says County GOP Chairwoman Tiani Coleman.

Brent Johnson, general counsel to the administrative office of the state courts, says the Utah Supreme Court can schedule a case at any time, but it's impossible to predict what will happen.

"The court would - and I think has done so in the past - do its best to make certain that it can accommodate the parties and have the issue resolved so it complies with the spirit of the election law," Johnson says. "But when it comes down to it, it's really just impossible to look into the crystal ball and say this is what would happen."

State Elections Director Amy Naccarato agrees anything is possible.

If the GOP votes to put Ivory on the ballot, and someone, perhaps the Democratic Party, sues, "it's up to a court. And I don't even have a guess what happens then."

Naccarato says courts usually bump up election matters since there is no time for a protracted legal challenge. "We have a set date; the election is Nov. 2," she says. "We can't change that."

For now, Ivory is keeping up his write-in campaign efforts, but will switch to a different strategy if the Central Committee makes him the nominee.

"We can't second-guess what will happen with legal challenges," says campaign spokesman Jim Bennett. "We're moving forward and dealing with the realities. This whole campaign has been a whirlwind. Every day there's a new twist and we're almost used to it."

Asked if he was concerned about not definitively knowing the ballot's final form until close to the election, State Democratic Chairman Donald Dunn says, "I'm concerned that the letter and spirit of the law is not being followed."

A Democratic lawsuit would have to be filed against Swensen, a Democrat. Corroon has asked his party not to sue.

Meanwhile, Naccarato, who works for Republican Lt. Gov. Gayle McKeachnie, says she supports the clerk's decision to reject two initial GOP attempts to put Ivory on the ballot. Swensen has been accused by some Republicans of playing partisan politics in denying those GOP efforts.

Swensen maintains the certification cannot take place until the Central Committee votes in a formal meeting to nominate Ivory.

The Utah Supreme Court on Oct. 5 upheld a lower court ruling that the Green Party did not properly certify a candidate according to its bylaws. The court also held that the convening of a meeting over e-mail did not constitute a real meeting under the Green Party's bylaws.

tburr@sltrib.com

Republicans for Corroon

Peter Corroon the Democratic nominee for Salt Lake County mayor, is getting support from the other side of the aisle.

Current and former Republican state delegates, a former Nancy Workman supporter and a past GOP County Council candidate are now backing Corroon, according to his campaign.

* Republicans endorsing Corroon include:

* Ray Matthews a state delegate from Sandy.

* Bruce Worthen a former state delegate of South Jordan.

* Wendy Smith a state delegate, former County Commission candidate and former Workman backer.

* Shaun Kruger who lost a convention bid to run for County Council District 4.

* Smith says she backs Corroon because Republican write-in candidate Ellis Ivory is an "extension of the current Workman administration and does not represent real change to the current Salt Lake County ethics problems.

"Loyalty to principle is far more important to me than loyalty to political party," Smith added.

* Read more on Corroon's Web site:* http://www.votecorroon.com.

Cook online

* Merrill Cook the unaffiliated candidate for county mayor, doesn't have money for TV spots before Election Day, but you can watch two videos on the Web: http://www.cookforcountymayor.com.

* Cook, who has struggled to raise money, said Monday he had about $8,000 to $9,000 left going into the homestretch.

In his short online videos, Cook introduces himself to voters and explains why he is the best candidate. He also attacks the attempts to put write-in candidate Ellis Ivory on the ballot's Republican line and lambastes Democratic opponent Peter Corroon.