Dan Sparks doesn't want to be like Mike.

He wants to be like John.

Hottinger, that is.

Sparks wants to join State Senator John Hottinger in the Minnesota Legislature.

Sparks is the DFL-endorsed candidate for Senate District 27. Albert Lea Republican Grace Schwab wrestled the seat from the DFL in the 2000 elections, when she upset long-time incumbent Pat Piper, an Austin DFLer.

Now, Sparks is the DFL Party's favorite to unseat the popular incumbent.

Sparks discussed campaign strategy with Senate assistant majority leader Hottinger, during a Thursday visit to Austin.

"There are 66 or 67 Senate seats the DFL Party would like to help grow our majority in the Senate. Dan Sparks is one of those seats which will help us do that," Hottinger said.

Sparks' mother, Faye, is a Senate staffer, who has helped her son obtain the assistance and influence of the DFL Party's "heavy hitters," including Hottinger.

According to Hottinger, the state DFL Party "still regards District 27 as a Democratic district."

"That's where," Hottinger said, "State Senator Pat Piper served her constituents for several years. That's where Tom Nelson served. We believe we have to take it back and that Dan Sparks is the man to do that."

Neither Hottinger or Sparks is worried that the emergence of a viable Third Party slate of candidates will deter their plans to retake District 27.

Even with former Congressman Tim Penny, an Independence Party candidate, heading the ticket as a gubernatorial candidate, Hottinger and Sparks say the Democrats and Republicans will still rule voters' attention.

Terry Kelley, the former DFLer, who sought the Senate District's endorsement for District 27, is now running as an Independence Party candidate for the senate seat.

On Monday, another Independence Party candidate, Jennifer Lee Ann Ney, is slated to announce she is running for the office, too.

The senator said he was advising Sparks to stay focused on his campaign against Schwab and the issues. According to Sparks, those issues remain education, affordable health care and jobs.

Hottinger, in particular, said another shifting of the property tax burden -- this one by Governor Ventura -- will resonate the loudest among voters this fall.

Sparks, he said, should be listening and prepared to act with a plan of his own.

Sparks said, "I'm happy to have received the DFL Party's endorsement and the campaign is moving forward. We're raising money and it's going well."

"Our goals are to address the issues … education funding, affordable health care, property taxes, prescription drugs and the rest … head on," he said.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com