Sparks, Daniel D. "Dan"
Senate 2003-2012 (District 27); Senate 2013-2020 (District 27)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower, Steele
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
7/5/1968
Birth Place:
Austin, Minnesota
Birth County:
Mower
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Dan
City of Residence (when first elected):
Austin
Occupation (when first elected):
Banker
EDUCATION
Austin High School, Minnesota; Secondary; Graduate, late 1980s
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Attended College; A Few Classes Away from a Degree
St. Cloud State University; Attended College;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Clean Water Council;
09/2011 to 20??
[Appointed]
County Board/Commissioner:
Mower County, Minnesota (County Commissioner);
2023 to ?
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Andrea (first listed in 2005)
Children:
Four children: Hailey, Maddy, and Rylie (daughters); Niklas Tyler (son, born while he was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, energy, education funding, lowering prescription drug costs, economic development.
He was a youth hockey and baseball coach.
His mother, Faye Sparks, was a Legislative Assistant to Sen. James Metzen.
Religion provided by the 2006 WCCO TV Voters' Guide.
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele
Occupation: None Listed
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele
Occupation: None Listed
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele
Occupation: None Listed
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance: Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division - 2015 / Natural Resources, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division - 2016
-
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Budget Division
-
Higher Education and Workforce Development
-
Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development (Chair)
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele
Occupation: Loan Officer
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance: Environment, Economic Development, and Agriculture Division
-
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Division
-
Higher Education and Workforce Development
-
Jobs, Agriculture, and Rural Development (Chair)
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
Counties Represented:
Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower
Occupation: Loan Officer
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Economies
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection
-
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower
Occupation: Mortgage Loan Officer, MinnState Mortgage
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Business, Industry and Jobs
-
Business, Industry and Jobs: Bioscience and Renewable Energy Development (Chair)
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection
-
Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
-
Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower
Occupation: Loan Officer
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Business, Industry and Jobs
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection
-
Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
-
Finance: Economic Development Budget Division
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower
Occupation: Loan Officer
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Consumer Protection, Banking and Insurance (Chair)
-
Commerce: No Fault Insurance
-
Finance: Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division
-
Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Energy
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Telecommunications and Technology
Session Notes:
His margin of victory over Grace Schwab was so close an automatic recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 5 - 7 votes. A court case was filed over the status of ballots that had been burned.
Body: Senate
District: 27
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Austin
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower
Occupation: Banker
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs-2003/Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming-2004
[He was a member in 2003 only.]
-
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004
-
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004: Consumer Protection and Banking (Chair)
-
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004: Telecommunications and Technology
-
Elections-2004
-
Finance: 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
[He was a member in 2004 only.]
-
Rules and Administration: Elections
Session Notes:
His margin of victory over Grace Schwab was so close an automatic recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 5 - 7 votes. A court case was filed over the status of ballots that had been burned.
District Files
District File - 2003 District 27
District File - 2004 District 27
District File - 2005 District 27
District File - 2006 District 27
District File - 2007 District 27
District File - 2008 District 27
District File - 2009 District 27
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.