WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite having a full-time legal fight on his hands, former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman is no slacker at his new job with the Republican Jewish Coalition, according to the group’s executive director, Matt Brooks.
Since joining the organization as a paid consultant, the Republican has been to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Brooks said Coleman’s work has ranged from speaking about policy positions at larger meetings to acting as a strategic adviser to members of the group’s leadership.
“We’ve been keeping him busy,” said Brooks.
Coleman announced in January that he was taking the job to make money while he continues to wrangle with Democrat Al Franken over the final outcome of the Minnesota Senate race.
“Coleman is not a member of the millionaires’ club,” Coleman spokesman Mark Drake said at the time. “He is someone who has to work to pay his mortgage and help his kids get through school.”
The coalition, an organization based here that does outreach and lobbying and counts a number of GOP heavyweights among its board members, has had connections to Coleman since his days as the mayor of St. Paul.
Board members include Lewis Eisenberg, former national finance co-chairman for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and past Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman.
According to Brooks, Coleman’s next gig with the group will take him to New York, where he will have a series of private meetings next week with members of the leadership.
Brooks said that Coleman is not paid per appearance, but through a consulting arrangement. He declined, however, to detail the terms of the agreement, including how much the group is paying Coleman for his services.
“We are very pleased on all levels with having him involved,” said Brooks. “He has really been a terrific addition to the organization, and it’s fabulous to have him as part of what we are doing.”