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Sparks, Daniel D. "Dan"

Sessions Served

Other Information

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 01/06/2025 [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.

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Total Days Served: 6573

SESSIONS SERVED

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021

Counties Represented: Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021

Counties Represented: Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance
Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017

Counties Represented: Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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)

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017

Counties Represented: Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele

Occupation: Loan Officer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

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)

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower

Occupation: Loan Officer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

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

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower

Occupation: Mortgage Loan Officer, MinnState Mortgage

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower

Occupation: Loan Officer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

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

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower

Occupation: Loan Officer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

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.

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 27

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Austin

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower

Occupation: Banker

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

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

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OTHER INFORMATION

District Files

2003 (27)

2004 (27)

2005 (27)

2006 (27)

2007 (27)

2008 (27)

2009 (27)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

News Sources

The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

Photographs

Dan Sparks and Kent Eken on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 4/24/2017. Dan Sparks and Kent Eken discuss legislation on the Senate Floor. Dan Sparks is a Democrat from Austin and Kent Eken is a Democrat from Twin Valley. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

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