By Briana Morgan
In a surprise move, Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman announced her withdrawal from the mayoral race due to stress associated with her current court case.
According to a statement given to the Deseret Morning News, Workman bowed out of the campaign because of health issues.
“My doctor has strongly advised that, in his opinion, with extraordinary stress of the ongoing prosecution, I cannot continue a political campaign without unreasonably compromising my health. Recognizing the toll, I have decided to heed his advice.”
Workman has been accused of nepotism for donating money to the Boys and Girls Club where her daughter was employed.
In an effort to continue to divert the focus away from Workman”s court case, the Salt Lake County Republican Party announced they would endorse write-in candidate Ellis Ivory. Ivory announced his candidacy a week ago.
According to Jim Bennett, the press and media relations director for Ivory”s campaign, Ivory is trying to move on with his campaign and leave the controversy associated with Workman behind. Bennett also said even though the county GOP central committee has endorsed his candidate, Ivory will continue to be a write-in candidate.
Russell Kennedy, a representative for the Peter Corroon campaign, said Corroon, has tried to focus on the issues rather than on the circumstances surrounding the Workman case. Corroon is the Democratic candidate. Independent candidate Merrill Cook is also running.
“What has been most unfortunate about this situation, if anything, is that it has eclipsed some of the real issues in this race,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said, Corroon has been knocking on doors, talking about the issues and holding press conferences for the past eight months in order to maintain focus on the issues.
“We definitely wish the mayor well, Kennedy said. “We can understand that she may need a dignified way to get out of the race.”
The Salt Lake County GOP”s central committee said they would decide sometime next week what if any action would be taken in light of Workman”s announcement.
Kelly Patterson, BYU”s political science department chair, said Workman”s withdrawal from the campaign might help voters and candidates. Patterson said the move will help voters because ballots will be less crowded and voters will not have to sort through so many candidates. He also said candidates will benefit from the actions of Workman.
“It will be good for the other candidates that she has dropped out,” Patterson said. “The news coverage will tend to focus a bit more on the campaign and less on the scandal of the trial.”
The Workman campaign was unavailable for comment.
