Workman defenders are scarce
The first official shot in The State of Utah v. Nancy B. Workman was fired yesterday when Yocom called a press conference for 10 a.m. to announce his decision whether to file felony charges against the mayor for using the $17,202.50 from county Health Department funds to pay a succession of accountants to help Workman's daughter in her job at the South Valley Boys & Girls Club.
As if to underscore the no-nonsense, we-mean-what-we-say approach the county legal department is taking to the matter, Yocom began the press conference at 10 a.m. sharp. This was no rock star arriving 20 minutes late or an eager rookie showing up 20 minutes early.
Wearing a dark business suit and with a sober manner, the DA exhibited no glee as he announced his decision to file the charges against the county's boss, alleging that the honorable mayor lied and cheated and then covered up her lies and her cheating.
Since Yocom is a Democrat and Workman is a Republican two months from Election Day, it's natural to think as Workman and others in her party have suggested that politics might have a hand in all this. But besides calling such allegations "totally unfounded and, on a personal level, distasteful," Yocom rode into battle with significant backing. Using the findings of an independent panel of prosecutorial peers like University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith used his offensive line last Thursday night, Yocom never broke clear of his blockers.
Yocom made it clear that Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson, Weber County Chief Deputy Attorney William Daines, Summit County Chief Prosecuting Attorney David R. Brickey and Davis County Deputy Attorney Brian Namba spent more than two months examining the evidence before recommending that "based upon our collective experience as trial lawyers, we conclude that there is a reasonable probability of success if the matter were to go to trial."
And they did not mean success for the mayor.
Worse, for Workman, the bipartisan panel noted that it spent "considerable" time listening to explanations from both the mayor and her attorney, Ron Yengich, before recommending to Yocom that he file the felony charges.
The money, of course, is not the real issue. The amount of money involved in the overall scheme of government is pocket change. The county wastes that much just spilling gas at the pump.
What Workman is really charged with is not misusing funds, but power. She helped her daughter because she could. And she covered it up because she could. Between the lines, that's the indictment against her: that in this instance, at least, she behaved more like an old-style South American dictator than a duly elected civil servant.
Comments
- Sleepy Ridge offers much for many 11:09 p.m.
- Sentencing delayed in con man's case 11:07 p.m.
- Draper Days bronc riding 11:07 p.m.
- Ex-S.L. man pleads guilty in Florida 11:07 p.m.
- 2 W.V. men charged with lewdness 11:06 p.m.
- Defense prepares for murder case 11:05 p.m.
- Utah man gets 51 months for fraud 11:05 p.m.
- Man competent for trial in 2008 death 11:04 p.m.
- Man arrested in sex assault on teen 11:03 p.m.
- Man charged in stabbing last month 11:02 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - LDS seminary principal arrested
137 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
80 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
why do people complain about the story vs. not story. If you don't think the...
Know your enemy: relax no one cares about the spelling. Anonymous: I agree...
I'm sure glad he saved us! No if we could just get those sea levels down...
I am supposing they were trying to get on the news, and in the newspapers....
What a great Idea, 12 years of hard labor vs. siting on your butt for 12...
There has been no evidence of a possible global collapse. The only evidence...
I just went to the Mormon myth busting site (great name, BTW!) but it needs a...
Jazz need to keep Milsap without a doubt! he did a lot for us. Trade AK and...
Actually, based on the choices we have, or likely to have Cherilyn Eagar is...
Thank you, Bishop Wester, for all of the goodness you add to our community.


You can be the first to comment on this story.