Sorry, I never updated this with the solution that I came up with.
I was never able to get a replacement power button, so I removed the button entirely and there is a direct line of sight from the old power button hole to the ribbon connector on the motherboard. So you can short it with a screwdriver to mimic the button press.
Worked for 2 years starting it every day with a screwdriver across the pins!
Hopefully that helps somebody out.