Nancy Workman
Encyclopedia
Nancy Workman was the first county mayor of Salt Lake County, and a member of the Republican Party
. Utah
She was born December 9, 1940 in Pueblo
, Colorado
, but grew up in Boise
, Idaho
where her father was an automobile dealer. She finally settled in the Salt Lake Valley
during her senior year of high school
.
Workman went to college at the University of Utah
and ran a construction business before seeking office as county recorder. After an unsuccessful bid in 1990 she was finally elected in 1994 to a six year term. Later, after the post was approved by the county commission, Workman was elected to the newly created post of County Mayor.
As County Mayor, Workman presided over a budget of nearly $700 million and never asked for a tax increase. She moved the county-owned planetarium from its historic but outdated facility on State Street to a new shopping development known as Gateway. Workman also worked to establish a fire district and supported self determination of unincorporated areas of the county.
In 2004 democratic District Attorney David Yocum accused Workman of mis-appropriating funds to pay for an employee at a local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America. She faced two felony
charges
of misusing county monies by allegedly placing county employees at the club: one Second Degree Felony and one Third Degree.
During the trial it was revealed that the county employee was actually hired as a replacement for Workman's daughter at the Boys & Girls Club, rather than an assistant, as the D.A. had suspected. On February 10, 2005 a jury found Workman not guilty of all charges.
Originally, Workman thought not to drop out of the 2004 county mayoral race, even when the Utah GOP dropped public support for her. The Republicans replaced her with Ellis Ivory as a write-in candidate
. On October 12, 2004, Workman decided to drop out of the race in an effort to give the Republicans a better chance at securing the office.
After spending over a year focusing on family and friends, Nancy was asked to serve as the President of the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce in the spring of 2006.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
She was born December 9, 1940 in Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, but grew up in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
where her father was an automobile dealer. She finally settled in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
during her senior year of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
.
Workman went to college at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and ran a construction business before seeking office as county recorder. After an unsuccessful bid in 1990 she was finally elected in 1994 to a six year term. Later, after the post was approved by the county commission, Workman was elected to the newly created post of County Mayor.
As County Mayor, Workman presided over a budget of nearly $700 million and never asked for a tax increase. She moved the county-owned planetarium from its historic but outdated facility on State Street to a new shopping development known as Gateway. Workman also worked to establish a fire district and supported self determination of unincorporated areas of the county.
In 2004 democratic District Attorney David Yocum accused Workman of mis-appropriating funds to pay for an employee at a local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America. She faced two felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
charges
Criminal charge
A criminal charge is a formal accusation made by a governmental authority asserting that somebody has committed a crime. A charging document, which contains one or more criminal charges or counts, can take several forms, including:* complaint...
of misusing county monies by allegedly placing county employees at the club: one Second Degree Felony and one Third Degree.
During the trial it was revealed that the county employee was actually hired as a replacement for Workman's daughter at the Boys & Girls Club, rather than an assistant, as the D.A. had suspected. On February 10, 2005 a jury found Workman not guilty of all charges.
Originally, Workman thought not to drop out of the 2004 county mayoral race, even when the Utah GOP dropped public support for her. The Republicans replaced her with Ellis Ivory as a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
. On October 12, 2004, Workman decided to drop out of the race in an effort to give the Republicans a better chance at securing the office.
After spending over a year focusing on family and friends, Nancy was asked to serve as the President of the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce in the spring of 2006.