Erich Mische is stepping away from politics for a new job as executive director of Spare Key, a Bloomington-based nonprofit that helps families with sick children who are facing financial stress by making a mortgage payment for them.

Mische has worked in politics for decades and was a top aide to Norm Coleman during his time as mayor of St. Paul and as a U.S. senator; most recently he's worked for national governmental-relations firms, with lots of time spent in Washington.

With two children, ages 9 and 11, now is a good time to ratchet down the commuting and work for a good cause in the Twin Cities, he said. And to take a break from the political storms.

"It's a nice way to transition at this time of my life, and bring to bear my relationships and networks on growing a great organization," he said.

Will he stay involved with politics on the side?

"No, with an exclamation point. It's time for the new generation. My days of doing politics have long been past," he said. "The upside of having 30 years in government and politics is I had the opportunity to work with people on both sides of the aisle, building relationships and friends. And as I reach out to them about Spare Key, they're excited to be helpful in some way."

Mische got his start as a city council member in White Bear Lake but rose to prominence in local political circles for his work with Coleman. Last year, he took a job with The Bockorny Group, a national government relations company. Earlier, he'd worked for the national government relations firm mCapitol Management.

Mische said he's been a board member of Spare Key for the past few years, getting involved when a communications class he was teaching at the University of St. Thomas decided to help Spare Key with a branding campaign.

Spare Key was formed in 1997 by Patsy and Robb Keech, who's son Derian died at age 2 1/2 from complications of birth defects. When Patsy took unpaid time from her job as a teacher to care for Derian, family and friends and even students at her Apple Valley middle school chipped in to help the family make mortgage payments during the financially stressful period.

The Keeches founded the nonprofit to help other parents in similar situations and got a big boost in 2000, with an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show, which brought a $50,000 grant.

The Keeches are still involved with the group, Mische said. The organization's previous executive director, Ann Bomstad Miller, left the job to move with her family to Iowa, he said.

The strategic plan for Spare Key is to double its reach in Minnesota, raising more money and helping more families, he said.

"There's more need out there than we can currently meet," Mische said. "And there are lots of people who don't even know we're here to help."

Spare Key will make one monthly mortgage payment, of up to $1,200, for families with a child who has been hospitalized for 21 or more days in the past 90 days. And applicants must be Minnesota homeowners who are current on their mortgage payments.

"There are other agencies who can help people behind in their mortgage payments," Mische said. "We've got a laser-like focus on families who are stressed financially because they're helping a child. One parent told me: 'It helped our family bounce, and not break.' We want to help families focus on their child recover."