Democrat supports an inquiry on Rocky

The chairwoman of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party is joining Republicans who want District Attorney David Yocom to investigate Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson for possible misuse of public funds.

"I believe that if a public official has done something wrong they should be investigated," Megan Risbon told the Deseret Morning News on Monday, saying she is sending Yocom a letter today officially requesting an investigation.

Investigations of wrongdoing should not be made along party lines, she said, acknowledging that her letter might offend Anderson, one of the state's best-known Democrats.

Risbon noted that asking the district attorney to look at the mayor's expenditures is an effective way to look at the "whole picture" that Anderson told her in a recent e-mail he wished people would see before deciding he acted improperly.

"If there is some wrongdoing, sure he should be prosecuted," she said. "If there isn't, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about."

A decision to investigate hasn't been made and won't be until Yocom, who is out of town all week, is back and has reviewed the matter, a spokesman for the district attorney said Monday.

Because the call for an investigation was only being made by county Republicans, and given that public funds expenditures remains a sore subject in local party politics, Risbon's support and her promise to send the letter perplexed at least two Democrats.

"I'm surprised that the county Democrats are doing this," said City Councilwoman Nancy Saxton, herself a Democrat but who is often opposed to Anderson on issues.

Dale Lambert, a Democrat and council chairman, said he knows of no evidence against Anderson and that merely asking for an investigation has already put a cloud of doubt over the mayor's office that could very well be unwarranted.

Calling for or endorsing a criminal investigation is inappropriate "unless there is evidence of criminal wrongdoing," Lambert said.

Evidence is ample and the district attorney just needs to fill in the details, say county Republicans, who maintain Yocom's office set a precedent a year ago when it investigated and prosecuted Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman for misusing public funds. Workman resigned to help prepare her defense and was ultimately acquitted by a jury.