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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.

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: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
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

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

  Session Details
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
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance
  • Capital Investment
  • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy

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: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented: Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Steele
Occupation: None Listed
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Capital Investment
  • Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Budget Division
  • Finance: Natural Resources, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division
  • Higher Education and Workforce Development
  • Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development (Chair)

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

  Session Details
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
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)

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

  Session Details
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
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

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: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
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

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
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
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

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: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
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.

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
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
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
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

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.