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SANDY - Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman is not backing away but the Republican Party is - from her.

Workman

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Hours after the embattled mayor defiantly vowed to continue her re-election campaign - despite her rising legal troubles and plunging poll numbers - hundreds of party leaders voted overwhelmingly Tuesday night to withdraw their support of Workman and instead endorse write-in candidate Ellis Ivory.

"She had the chance to do the right thing . . . [and] she refused to do it," said county GOP Central Committee member Robert Wright. "We are not going to continue to be part of her behavior."

Even Workman's top lieutenant, acting Mayor Alan Dayton, said it was time for her to halt her campaign. "I wish her well, and I hope she will do the same for the party, by quitting the race."

The Central Committee's resolution praised Workman's "good service" during the past four years, but said her "severely weakened" status is like having no candidate at all. The committee asked the mayor to bow out of the race. If she refused, it would back another candidate.

Committee members then chose Ivory, a notable Utah home builder, to carry Republicans to victory. However, Workman will remain on the ballot as the party's official nominee.

The mayor and her campaign earlier had rejected GOP calls for her to drop out.

"We are not quitters," she said in an unyielding two-page statement. "To back down now would go against everything I have ever stood for in my personal, professional and political life."

The mayor did not return a call for comment after the party meeting in Sandy, but she acknowledged in her statement the loss of party support may happen and that was "fine."

"I recognize that many will question my decision from a political standpoint," Workman said. "My decision is not about politics, polls, opinions or even final vote counts. My decision is about my reputation and the good name of my family."

The mayor, who is on paid leave and facing two felonies for alleged misuse of taxpayer money, even gave a slight endorsement of Ivory.

"I wish Ellis Ivory the best," Workman said. "I am certain he would be a fine county mayor."

Dozens of Republicans flocked to Ivory after the vote, offering their support.

"When I win, I'm a Republican," Ivory said. "I want support anywhere I can get it."

Merrill Cook, a former Republican congressman who is running unaffiliated for county mayor, made an impassioned plea for the committee's endorsement, but failed to woo enough backing.

No cheerleaders spoke out for the mayor at Tuesday's meeting, which she did not attend.

Some Republicans were angry at her actions. "We need to tell everybody we are not going to stand for corrupt government," Kevin Clayson said.

Others were concerned about the Democrats winning the seat. "Don't turn the county government over to the side of darkness," said Robert Breeze, who warned that Democrats would assemble an "army of gay-rights activists."

Tuesday's developments added new twists to an already uncharted political path.

"In some ways it's like a Greek tragedy," said Kelly Patterson, director of the Center for Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University. "Everyone starts out with the best intentions, but because of other forces and the way things go, it brings about some type of tragedy."

Salt Lake County Council Democrats, who Monday urged Workman to leave office and the race, were confused that she decided to press on.

"It shows a lot of guts, there's no question about it," Councilman Jim Bradley said. "But on the other hand, it's still a bit of a selfish approach to this. It is egocentric and not good."

Councilman Joe Hatch said he couldn't understand why the mayor would stay in the race. "The only other explanation is she's so angry about what happened, she wants to burn the house down as she leaves."

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Tribune reporter Derek Jensen contributed to this story.