The problem in the Workman case was never money — a grand total of $18,000 was paid to the ghost employees; most mayors have more than that in petty cash. Nor was it crooked behavior — we're talking accountants here, who worked at a nonprofit children's club.

The problem was the perception that the county mayor worked the system and did something to help her own family simply because she was mayor and could.

To your average working man and woman who pays taxes and can't get their son or daughter hired where they work because of nepotism rules, that just doesn't look or feel very good.

Or to your average government worker required to play by much more stringent rules.

It was that human sentiment — people seeing her as a human being, not the mayor — that moved the Workman case so far that she lost out on having a chance to run for re-election because of her legal woes.

The same thing that got her into court got her out.

Pretty cool system.

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.