Peter Schorsch
Last session, “transportation network services” like Uber and Lyft were one of myriad issues where the House and Senate diverged — the House position was enthusiastically pro-Uber, while the Senate was more reticent.
But state Rep. Ritch Workman has taken his support for ridesharing to a whole new level.
FloridaPolitics.com has learned — and Uber Florida’s Public Policy Representative Cesar Fernandez has confirmed — that the House Rules Committee Chairman has taken up a side job as a “driver partner” for the ride-hailing service.
In the photo below, the Canadian-born lawmaker and mortgage broker, using the name David, can be seen on the in-app dialog screen that comes up once a fare is completed.
The ride appears to have been rendered in Tallahassee. He even got five stars!
The part-time nature of the Florida Legislature means that almost all lawmakers take up another profession in order to supplement their $29,697 annual salary and make ends meet.
But working for a ride-sharing service like Uber is not one we’ve seen before.
When appointing Workman to his current post Speaker Steve Crisafulli, who like Workman also represents Brevard County, praised the 42-year-old legislator as the right man for the job as one of the top-ranking posts in the House.
“He builds consensus, solves complex problems, and treats all members with respect. He will make an excellent Rules chair.”
Also great qualities in the driver’s seat.
“I always feel I have wasted time up here at night,” Workman told POLITICO Florida Wednesday evening. “At home, I have my wife, my kids, my ranch, my animals and my real job to occupy that free space. So when I’m not in the Capitol or my office or in the chamber or having dinner with a group, this is what I like to do.”
“For a lot of legislators, sometimes you see trouble after nightfall,” Workman said. “But I won’t be one of them. I’ll be driving an Uber car.”
After FloridaPolitics broke this story, Workman had some fun with the situation.
“I’m working now!” Workman tweeted. “Just dropped some folks at 101. Eagerly awaiting my next journey!”
