Cullen Sheehan

Cullen Sheehan is a registered lobbyist for Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. He previously served as Chief of Staff of the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus from January 2010 to November 2011. Sheehan also worked with the U.S. Senate campaigns of Norm Coleman in 2002 and 2008, where Sheehan served as campaign manager.

It was during his time as campaign manager for Coleman in 2008 that Sheehan participated in a press conference where he repeated the phrase "the Senator has reported every gift he's ever received" in response to questions from reporters AbOUT allegations that Coleman had received gifts from a financial contributor to his campaigns. Sheehan's performance at the press conference earned him a spot on TIME Magazine's list of the "10 Most Cringe-Worthy Press Conferences."

Sheehan also worked for Tim Michels of Wisconsin, as Midwest Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee and as the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Iowa.

In August 2010, Sheehan took a leave of absence from the Minnesota Senate to serve as campaign manger for Tom Emmer's gubernatorial campaign. After the 2010 elections, Sheehan returned to the Minnesota Senate to serve as Chief of Staff to the Senate Majority Caucus. In July 2011, Sheehan received an award as a Leader in Public Policy from Politics In Minnesota/Capitol Report as the Top Legislative Staffer at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Sheehan's involvement in the termination of a former employee of the Minnesota Senate, Michael Brodkorb, has come under scrutiny due to a pending lawsuit by Brodkorb. Sheehan was listed in initial paperwork regarding Brodkorb's planned lawsuit over his termination from the Minnesota Senate. On May 25, 2012, the Minnesota Senate released legal bills showing they had spent $46,150 in the first 3 months of 2012 to prepare a defense to Brodkorb's suit.

On June 19, 2012, the Minnesota Senate announced additional legal bills in the amount of $38,533, bringing the total legal costs incurred by the Minnesota Senate due to the termination of Brodkorb to almost $85,000 since the end of the May 2012.