Without a lot of political grandstanding, Workman has served up modest tax decreases, is rebating $5 million in sanitation funds and has reduced the county's certified tax rate for municipal services, all while solidifying the county's excellent bond rating. She saved a million dollars in her first month by instituting a hiring freeze, earning recognition from the Utah Taxpayers Association as Taxpayer Advocate of the Year. She has bolstered fire and library services, started a voluntary recycling program, instituted an excellent neighborhood cleanup program, initiated an economic development program, streamlined the building permit process from eight months to eight weeks, and saved $2.7 million for open-space initiatives. Not bad at all in the first years of a brand new government. She deserves to finish what she's started.

Pignanelli: I rarely accuse Republicans of stupidity in election strategy. While often misguided in policy, they usually demonstrate smarts in campaign tactics. GOP leaders have finally exhibited savvy in the Salt Lake County mayor's race by providing the political equivalent of intensive medical care to the Workman campaign.

Chris Bleak recently left his position as executive director of the Utah Republican Party to manage Workman's election operations. At best a lateral career move for Bleak, this transfer was a calculated strategy to utilize his skills and play doctor to the mayor's ailing campaign. Her Democratic opponent, local businessman Peter Corroon, is enjoying a substantial boost at the expense of Workman. Party bosses reacted with painting Corroon as a crony of Rocky Anderson. This is a shrewd maneuver, since most voters outside Salt Lake City would be hard-pressed to choose between Rocky and grasshoppers to describe their least favorite irritant.