Jim Rosica
State Rep. Ritch Workman, the Melbourne Republican and House Rules chairman, is inviting his Tallahassee friends – read “lobbyists” – to a “good old-fashioned Christmas party.”
The hope is they’ll bring their checkbooks, though that’s “not required.”
In an email sent this month, Workman said he’d “made a lot of friends in this process (but) usually our ‘fellowship’ is at a typical fundraising event.” He was first elected in 2008 and is thus term-limited next year.
“Well, once a year I want to do something different,” he wrote. “I want to have my ‘Tallahassee friends’ (and their spouses) come together for a good old fashioned Christmas party.
“You and your peers are as close to office co-workers as I get as a State Representative,” he added. ” … Thank you and Merry Christmas, Ritch Workman (Not paid for at taxpayer expense).”
An attached flyer makes clear it’s a “political advertisement” for the event, to be held Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel downtown.
An “open bar social hour” is set for 6 p.m., buffet dinner at 7 p.m., and a cash bar opens after 8 p.m.
There will also be a “White Elephant gift exchange with Ritch as the Emcee!! All guests bring a wrapped gift valued at $25.00 or less. Be as conservative or crazy as you wish!”
The flyer, however, makes clear: “To help offset costs, campaign contributions will be accepted but are absolutely not required.”
