"We're going [to trial] because I want to be exonerated," the former mayor of Salt Lake County said Monday during a telephone interview on the eve of jury selection. "I have confidence in my attorneys . . . and we're just going to go forward.

"I feel really good about my choice. And here it is: We get our day in court, and that's what America's about."

Workman, 64, will be in court today as more than 60 county residents are winnowed down to a jury of eight and two alternates - people who claim they can sit in unbiased judgment of the former politician.

Potential jurors will be individually queried by prosecutors, defense attorneys and 3rd District Judge Judith Atherton - a process that is expected to last all day Tuesday. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon, and the case is expected to go to the jury next week.

Workman - the county's first-ever mayor - was placed on paid leave last year after being charged with one count each of second-degree felony and third-degree felony misuse of public funds. The crimes are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

She allegedly used $17,000 in restricted Health Department funds to pay two bookkeepers who worked at the South Valley Boys and Girls Clubs, where the mayor's daughter was chief financial officer.

Workman allegedly used the money to pay club bookkeeper Alina Iorga, beginning in June 2003, according to court documents. When Iorga left in August 2003, Jennifer Schroder was hired to replace her. In both cases, prosecutors allege Workman signed the women's time sheets when no work was performed for the Health Department or Salt Lake County.

The hirings came under investigation by Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom in mid-2004. To avoid the appearance of conflict between Workman, a Republican, and Yocom, a Democrat, he asked a bipartisan panel to examine the hirings.

When it found evidence to support the two counts, Yocom charged Workman and appointed Michael Martinez, a private attorney, as special prosecutor to handle the case.

Workman's charges followed a string of controversies during her term, including the hiring of her nephew to market county services. In 2003, Workman administrative aide Gerrie Shaw and Deputy Mayor Alan Dayton were investigated for failing to report the creation of a political action committee.

Last year, a vehicle-related scandal knocked three high-ranking county officials out of office. County Auditor Craig Sorensen charged fuel for personal vehicles on a county gas card and pleaded guilty to misuse of public money.

Lawyers in the Workman case spent the weekend analyzing questionnaires filled out by potential jurors on Friday. Members of the jury pool answered 83 questions about their marital status, education and employment. They were also asked about their views on people in public office, what they knew about the Workman case and how they heard about it.

Despite widespread publicity, lawyers said they are not concerned about being able to select a jury. They declined, however, to say what percentage of the jury pool claimed knowledge of the case.

"I think most people who live in the Salt Lake Valley have heard about the case in one form or another," said defense attorney Jack Morgan on Monday.

The initial pool of 65 is expected to be cut to 22 by the end of today, based on their inability to serve. Attorneys will then be allowed to exercise six strikes each, reducing the final jury panel to 10.

Martinez and Morgan said the trial witnesses will be similar to those who testified at Workman's October preliminary hearing. "We don't anticipate any surprises," Martinez said.

Preliminary hearing witnesses included:

l David Marshall, former Chief Administrative Officer for the county, who testified that Workman asked him to hire Iorga to be Workman's "eyes and ears" in the community and provide health-related information to Eastern European immigrants. Marshall said Workman never mentioned the Boys and Girls Clubs.

l Kerry Steadman, former Human Services Director, who testified the hires would have been legal had procedure been followed.

l Aisza Wilde, Workman's daughter, who testified, "I was just seeking advice from my mommy" when she broached the subject of wanting to give Iorga a pay raise.

l Boys and Girls Clubs Executive Director Bob Dunn, who testified that while the club benefited from the hires, no one gained personally.

l Patti Pavey, former Health Department executive director, who testified she objected when told that an employee, who would report directly to the mayor, would be put on her payroll.

Workman has maintained she intended to help the children at the clubs, and her attorneys contend no crime occurred.

Asked if Workman will take the witness stand, Morgan replied: "I have no idea."

Workman said she is leaving the details of her defense to her attorneys, Morgan and Greg Skordas. "I think they'll do a great job," she said.

Morgan added, "Like any client heading for trial, she's interested, she's involved."

Workman is not working, and said she is instead "reconnecting with my family, which I've been neglecting for quite some time, enjoying my grandkids and preparing for the trial."

Workman said she is bolstered by supporters and by "strangers who come up to me in the grocery store, or wherever I'm at, and put their arms around me." The success of the Iraqi election, she added, has strengthened her faith in America and America's judicial system.

"It's the best there is," Workman said. "It's a good system, so whatever they [jurors] decide, I will have great respect for."

Workman on trial

The judge

Appointed in 1995, Judith Atherton, 54, is composed and methodical on the bench. Attorneys give her high marks for her grasp of legal issues and facts, well-written opinions and behavior free from impropriety. She has presided over high-profile cases such as that of accused Elizabeth Smart kidnapper Brian David Mitchell.

The special prosecutor

Michael Martinez, 55, is aggressive and performs before juries with flair, once attacking a case as "so full of holes a Swiss cheese would be proud to be part of it." The private practice attorney, with past experience as a prosecutor, is an advocate for minorities and the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, and has been a columnist for Salt Lake City's two daily newspapers. Not registered with any party, he has been involved in GOP activities. He worked as chief deputy of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under President Reagan. Martinez will be assisted by Jeff Hall, 34, a prosecutor for the past four years and previously a public defender.

The lead defense lawyer

Greg Skordas, 47, is self-assured in the courtroom and savvy with the media, drawing on past experience as both a public defender and as a prosecutor. Now in private practice, he was hired by Workman during his unsuccessful campaign in 2004 as the Democratic candidate for Utah attorney general. He is a former chief deputy under Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom, who oversaw the investigation into the hiring of the bookkeepers. He will be assisted by Jack Morgan, 40, a civil litigator who joined Skordas in criminal defense two years ago.

The charges

Former Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman is accused of misusing taxpayer funds to hire two successive bookkeepers for the nonprofit South Valley Boys and Girls Clubs, where her daughter was chief financial officer.

Count 1: Misusing public monies, a second-degree felony, alleging more than $5,000 was misused from Sept. 15, 2003, to June 15, 2004. Jennifer Schroder was paid $13,117 during that period.

Count 2: Misusing public monies, a third-degree felony, alleging funds were misused from June 16, 2003, to Aug. 29, 2003. Alina Iorga was paid $4,085 during that period.

In both cases, prosecutors allege Workman signed the women's' "Health Department Time and Attendance reports" when no work was performed for the Health Department or Salt Lake County.

The defense

Workman has said her intention was to "help the kids;" her attorneys have said no criminal conduct occurred and they will strive to show jurors the context of the hirings.

The defendant

Nancy Workman, 64, became Salt Lake County's first-ever mayor in January 2001, touting her county and executive experience to defeat Democrat Karen Crompton. She previously had been elected twice as Salt Lake County's recorder, an office she sought to modernize after working as the first woman general contractor in Utah, while president of Workman Construction in partnership with her husband, Reed Workman.

Hiring scandal timeline

June 25, 2004: Reports surface that Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom is investigating whether Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman possibly misused more than $17,000 in taxpayer money to hire two successive bookkeepers for the South Valley Boys and Girls Club, where her daughter is chief financial officer.

Sept. 1: A bipartisan panel of four prosecutors finds evidence to support charging Workman with two felonies. Workman denies criminal wrongdoing and vows to continue her re-election campaign.

Sept. 7: Yocom charges Workman with two felonies. Council places her on paid leave and names Deputy Mayor Alan Dayton as acting mayor.

Oct. 4: After a preliminary hearing, a state judge finds sufficient evidence to order Workman to stand trial, later set for Feb. 1.

Oct. 12: Workman halts her bid for a second term, citing a doctor's note that said she was unable to continue and setting off a battle over who will appear on the ballot. Republicans are able to replace Workman with Ellis Ivory, who is defeated by Democrat Peter Corroon.

Sources: Salt Lake Tribune archives, court documents