Dan Sparks

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Dan Sparks
File:DANSPARKS.jpg
Sparks with President Bill Clinton
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 27th district
Assumed office
January 7, 2003
Preceded by Grace Schwab
Personal details
Born (1968-07-05) July 5, 1968 (age 55)
Austin, Minnesota
Political party Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Spouse(s) Andrea
Children 4
Residence Austin, Minnesota
Alma mater University of Minnesota
St. Cloud State University
Occupation banker, legislator
Religion Lutheran

Daniel D. "Dan" Sparks (born July 5, 1968) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 27, which includes all or portions of Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, and Steele counties in the southeastern part of the state.

Education and Career

He attended college at the University of Minnesota and at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud. Sparks worked on a farm, in a highway engineer’s office, and on the production line at Hormel. He became a banker\loan officer at an Austin bank.

Minnesota Senate

Elections

He was first elected to the Senate in 2002 defeating Senator Grace Schwab by 7 votes after an automatic recount. He was re-elected in 2006, 2010 and 2012.[1]

2012 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Dan Sparks (Incumbent) 26552 68.22
Republican Linden Anderson 12334 31.69
2010 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Dan Sparks (Incumbent) 17574 61.44
Republican Kathy Green 11005 38.48
2006 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Dan Sparks (Incumbent) 21739 67.72
Republican George Marin 10329 32.18
2002 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Dan Sparks 15091 45.54
Republican Grace Schwab (Incumbent) 15084 45.52
Independence Terry Kelley 2066 8.90

Committee Assignments

Sparks was selected to chair the Senate Committee on Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development in November 2012.[3] His special legislative concerns include education funding, lowering prescription drug costs, and economic development.[1]

For the 89th Legislative Session, Sparks is a part of the:

  • Capital Investment
  • Finance Subcommittee: Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division
  • Finance Subcommittee: Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Budget Division
  • Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development

For the 88th Legislative Session, Sparks was part of the:

  • Capital Investment
  • Finance Subcommittee: Environment, Economic Development, and Agriculture Division
  • Finance Subcommittee: Higher Education and Workforce Development Division
  • Higher Education and Workforce Development
  • Jobs, Agriculture, and Rural Development (Chair)

For the 87th Legislative Session, Sparks was part of the:

  • Agriculture and Rural Economies
  • Commerce and Consumer Protection
  • Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications

For the 86th Legislative Session, Sparks was part of the:

  • Business, Industry and Jobs
  • Business, Industry and Jobs Subcommittee: Bioscience and Renewable Energy Development (Chair)
  • Capital Investment
  • Commerce and Consumer Protection
  • Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
  • Finance Subcommittee: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division

For the 85th Legislative Session, Sparks was part of the:

  • Business, Industry and Jobs
  • Capital Investment
  • Commerce and Consumer Protection
  • Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
  • Finance Subcommittee: Economic Development Budget Division

For the 84th Legislative Session, Sparks was part of the:

  • Commerce
  • Commerce Subcommittee: Consumer Protection, Banking and Insurance (Chair)
  • Commerce Subcommittee: No Fault Insurance
  • Finance Subcommittee: Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division
  • Finance Subcommittee: K-12 Education Budget Division
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development Subcommittee: Energy
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development Subcommittee: Telecommunications and Technology

For the 83rd Legislative Session, Sparks was part of the:

  • Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs-2003/Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming-2004
  • Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004
  • Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004 Subcommittee: Consumer Protection and Banking (Chair)
  • Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004 Subcommittee: Telecommunications and Technology
  • Elections-2004
  • Finance Subcommittee: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division-2003/K-12 Education Budget Division-2004
  • Jobs, Housing and Community Development-2003/Jobs, Energy and Community Development-2004
  • Rules and Administration Subcommittee: Elections

Personal life

Sparks and his wife, Andrea, live in Austin with their three daughters and son: Hailey, Maddy, Rylie, and Niklas Tyler.[4]

References

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External links