Workman mortgaged her house to finance her defense. She said she has used no campaign funds for the purpose. Yocom is reportedly investigating her withdrawal of almost $175,000 from the closing of her defunct campaign fund, which she said she has put into a savings account pending legal advice on what she can do with it.

As is often done in criminal cases, Martinez had extended at least two settlement offers in which Workman could plea-bargain down to one or more misdemeanors instead of felonies — including one offer Thursday morning just before the jury returned its verdict.

Skordas said he was inclined to accept at least one of the offers, but Workman, convinced of her ultimate vindication, was adamant that she see the process through to the end.

"I trusted her judgment, and now I do more than ever," Skordas said.

While former Workman re-election campaign chairman Chris Bleak lamented the timing of the acquittal ("Justice delayed is justice denied"), Workman said she was keeping it all in perspective.

"So what?" she said of her losing her job and re-election prospects. "Two felonies. . . . It didn't work out, but we're innocent now, and thank God for that. The scenario was I would be wearing an orange suit and (be) behind bars."

Combined, the charges carried a potential penalty of zero to 20 years in prison.

Workman said she hasn't yet thought much about the future — political or otherwise — except for one thing.

"I feel a party coming on."

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E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com