The former Salt Lake County mayor, embroiled in scandal before being acquitted of misusing public funds, is considering a run for county clerk next year.

"I'm thinking about it," she confirmed Thursday. "It's an important race and an important position."

Workman says the idea germinated while talking to political types about the 2006 races. "This just popped up," she said, adding, "my name's been cleared."

Workman says she bears no ill will toward the Republican Party, whose brass replaced her on the 2004 ballot with home builder Ellis Ivory, who lost the mayor's race to Democrat Peter Corroon.

"I never had any bitterness," she said. "I have no problem with the party."

There also is no feud with Democratic County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, whom Workman calls a "sweetheart."

If Workman runs, she will have a head start. Nearly $175,000 remains in her war chest from the '04 campaign. She also has billed the county for the $196,000 that attorneys charged for her successful legal defense.

For her part, Swensen says she is proud of her four-term record. "Experience is critical," she said, "especially with what we have before us with the Help America Vote Act."

Starting next year, the clerk's office will switch to electronic voting machines, a move mandated by Congress.

The likelihood Workman could unseat Swensen is remote, according to Quin Monson, Brigham Young University professor and assistant director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy.

"I would put very small odds on her chances," he said.

Alan Dayton, Workman's deputy mayor, notes putting a Republican in the clerk's office could reverse the order that names appear on the ballot - clearly a GOP strategy in a county where Democrats traditionally are competitive. But he is surprised his former boss has interest.

"Obviously, she still has it in her blood," he said. "But I don't know if the public would accept Nancy Workman. If you want to get back into public office, there are easier races than this one."

Even with Workman's acquittal and leftover campaign cash, Monson says there is no evidence Swensen is vulnerable. "I don't think [Swensen] has to campaign much," he said.

And if Workman did draw close, Monson added, Swensen would have "plenty of material" to throw at her GOP opponent.

Workman faced two felony charges of misusing public funds last year in the hiring of two bookkeepers to help her daughter at the South Valley Boys and Girls Clubs. Jurors cleared her in February. But she also held the county's top job during a headline-grabbing fleet scandal. And, since her departure, revelations surfaced about longtime abuses of tuition programs, time cards and billing procedures at the county.

Even so, Workman, who previously spent six years as county recorder, says she may abandon her fledgling engineering business to reconstruct her political career.

"When I go out to restaurants or go out to shop, people stop me and say wonderful things," she said. "The public understands that it was a raw deal."

On another comeback front, former County Council Chairman Steve Harmsen says he "seriously" is exploring a 2006 run against Democratic Councilman Jim Bradley.

"I'm surprised he's so eager to get back into it," Bradley quipped after hearing the news. "I didn't think he found it that rewarding."

Harmsen says he wants a return to "Republican ideals" at the county.

The former councilman, defeated last November by Democrat Jenny Wilson, says he also is pondering a crack at Salt Lake County district attorney after the current DA, David Yocom, retires next year.

If either Workman or Harmsen enter the fray, Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch, smelling victories for his party, has a ready line.

"Welcome back," Hatch said, tongue firmly in cheek. "This is great news."

djensen@sltrib.com