"I'm just here to have a good time," Workman joked as she walked with her attorneys to 3rd District Judge Judith Atherton's courtroom.

Asked whether she was "disabled" - the stated reason for her withdrawal last week from the county mayoral race - Workman replied: "I'm dis-something . . . I'm discom- bobulated."

Minutes later, Workman's demeanor was serious as she twice pleaded "not guilty" to charges that carry a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. Workman, 63, is charged with second-degree and third-degree felony counts of misusing public funds.

A two-week trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 1. Special prosecutor Mike Martinez estimated it could take three days to pick jurors who have not already made up their minds about the mayor's guilt or innocence.

Workman allegedly took $17,000 in health department funds to place a bookkeeper at a boys and girls club where her daughter was a top financial officer.

Although Workman has ended her re-election bid, she has not resigned. Her term ends in January, but she has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Republicans filed papers last week to replace Workman on the ballot with Ellis Ivory, who had emerged as a write-in candidate. He received the party's official endorsement Oct. 5, but the party couldn't officially name him its candidate because Workman was still officially in the race.

Workman dropped out last week, producing a doctor's note saying the stress of an election and running for office was too great. That was the only legal way she could be replaced on the ballot at such a late date.

Although Workman appeared in good health Monday, defense attorney Greg Skordas denied the stress claim was a ruse of any sort.

"Absolutely not," he said. "She's gotten out of the race and alleviated the stress, and the pressure is off. She should look better today. The stress was obviously overwhelming, and something most people could not understand."

Other candidates in the race, Democrat Peter Corroon and independent Merrill Cook, have criticized the effort to replace Workman on the ballot with Ivory. Democrats have said they may file a lawsuit if the county changes the ballots to add Ivory.