Lonnie Sparks (D)

3rd District State Rep. Pos. No. 2

Resume: 51, Spokane-area resident since 1976 … Graduated from the University of Idaho and Gonzaga University School of Law (1981), officer in the U.S. Army Reserves … Idaho potato farmer, Spokane attorney. Recently appointed state representative for position he now seeks … Single, no children.

Finances: Raised about $1,000 in contributions, invested about $9,000 of his own money.

Why he’s running: “I have in fact reached a time in my life where service to my community and my state outstrip my personal aspirations and ambitions. This city and this state have been very good to me.”

What he’ll do first: “I want to take measures to make higher education more accessible. We also are going to have to deal with juvenile justice reform.”

, DataTimes MEMO: See related story under the headline: State Legislature - 3rd District