Incoming Denton County District Attorney Paul Johnson said he's working hard this holiday season – interviewing prospective staff members, winding down a law practice, shopping for Christmas presents and coaching two youth basketball teams – before taking office Jan. 1.

A former employee in the district attorney's office, Mr. Johnson, 48, defeated longtime incumbent Bruce Isaacks in the Republican primary in March. He was unopposed in the general election.

Mr. Johnson said he's still conducting interviews to replace 25 people who were not rehired in the office – a process that will probably last into 2007.

"The interviewing is going well," he said. "I'll try to have in place by Jan. 1 a majority of the new hires, and then what I'm going to do is stagger some of the others. I don't want to be a strain on the county's budget."

The Denton County treasurer reported recently that the county could owe more than $160,000 for benefits and unused vacation time to the 25 employees Mr. Johnson let go.

Mr. Johnson also said he wouldn't fill all the positions with people from outside of the county.

"There are going to be a lot of promotions from within," he said. "I'm also going to bring some people from the outside."

Mr. Johnson is scheduled to be sworn in during the Denton County Commissioners Court meeting at 9 a.m. Jan. 1.

County Judge Mary Horn, who will swear in Mr. Johnson, said he has total control over the hiring process and how much each new hire will get paid.

"Any elected official can hire anyone they want," she said. "They come to the court just so we can make sure he's following policy."

She said that after spending time with Mr. Johnson and discussing the transition, she doesn't expect any other roadblocks. The court just confirms that the new hires have been tested for drugs and that their salaries and benefits do not violate county policy, Ms. Horn said.

E-mail mwmiller@dentonrc.com