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For the first time, a poll shows Democrat Peter Corroon topping incumbent Republican Nancy Workman in the Salt Lake County mayor's race.
A third of registered voters surveyed Aug. 5-19 said they "definitely" or "probably" would vote for Corroon this November compared with 23 percent who said they definitely or probably would back Workman in her bid for a second term.
That's according to a Dan Jones & Associates poll commissioned by the Utah-based Exoro Group, a bipartisan political consulting organization.
Of the 367 registered voters surveyed, 15 percent said they definitely or probably would vote for former U.S. Congressman Merrill Cook, who is running unaffiliated for county mayor. Some 22 percent were unsure.
The poll, which Exoro said was not paid for by any political candidates, has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.
Workman has been besieged by controversy with a recent vehicle-abuse scandal and a criminal investigation over her hiring of two successive county employees, who worked as accountants at the nonprofit South Valley Boys and Girls Club. The mayor's daughter is the Murray-based club's chief financial officer.
In a June Salt Lake Tribune poll, the Republican mayor tallied nearly 40 percent support, Corroon garnered 21 percent and Cook carried 13 percent.
Corroon, a political newcomer, said Tuesday that the latest poll shows momentum in his campaign. "It's a reflection of what we're hearing out in the community," Corroon said. "Salt Lake County voters have lost faith in the current leadership."
Workman's campaign manager, Chris Bleak, disagrees. He said the poll is dated and does not reflect the voters' current feelings, especially after Workman ran radio spots and newspaper ads touting her thrifty budgeting and improved programs.
"We're confident with our strategy, our campaign and we're moving forward," Bleak said. "We'll be higher as they [voters] learn about what she's done and hear our message."
Of course, the poll could be moot within the next few days.
A panel of four prosecutors from neighboring counties may decide this week whether to criminally charge Workman for creating the temporary county position at the Boys and Girls Club. The mayor acknowledges a paperwork mistake, but says it was not criminal.
The panel also could clear the mayor - a move that could boost her in the polls.
Exoro consultant LaVarr Webb, a Republican, said the group's poll came at Workman's "lowest point" during the scandals and that she is bound to gain traction as she spends some of the $600,000 war chest she amassed in the past four years.
"I was a bit surprised by the numbers, but I do think she can recover," Webb said. "She has raised substantial money and has yet to put the campaign in high gear."
However, Webb noted, the latest poll reveals the vehicle and hiring scandals have dinged the mayor's re-election efforts. "Those issues hit pretty hard," he said.
Webb declined to reveal which of Exoro's clients funded the poll, which did not include any other questions about the mayoral candidates or the race. The group has not done any work for any candidates in the mayor's race.
For his part, Cook said more people are jumping on board with his campaign and the support is growing.
"I'm pleased with that result," Cook said of the poll numbers, noting that he believes conservative and moderate voters will gravitate to him instead of the mayor. "Workman's very low. Pretty soon they'll realize I have a better chance than Workman."