N. Jefferey Sparling
N. Jefferey Sparling (Green Party) ran for election for an at-large seat of the Michigan State Board of Education. He will not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the Green Party convention on June 15, 2024.
Sparling completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
N. Jefferey Sparling earned an associate degree from Macomb Community College in 1982, a bachelor's degree from Oakland University in 1984, and a graduate degree from Central Michigan University in 1999. He also attended the Detroit College of Law. Sparling's career experience includes working as an educator, entrepreneur, cashier, fast food worker, and insurance adjuster.[1][2] He has been affiliated with the following organizations:
- MCSS-Michigan Council for Social Studies
- Green Party of Michigan
- Friendship House, Hamtramck
- Genesis the Church
- Campaigns of Green Party candidates
- Michigan Social Studies Teachers Association
- ISTE (computer teachers)[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Michigan State Board of Education election, 2024
General election
The general election will occur on November 5, 2024.
General election for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
The following candidates are running in the general election for Michigan State Board of Education on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Tom McMillin (R) | |
 | Nikki Snyder (R) | |
 | Theodore Jones (D)  | |
 | Adam Zemke (D) | |
 | Scott Boman (L) | |
 | Ted Gerrard (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | |
 | Christine Schwartz (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | |
 | Mary Anne Hering (Working Class Party) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
Theodore Jones and Adam Zemke advanced from the Democratic convention for Michigan State Board of Education on August 24, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Theodore Jones (D) |
| ✔ | | Adam Zemke (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
Incumbent Tom McMillin and incumbent Nikki Snyder advanced from the Republican convention for Michigan State Board of Education on August 24, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Tom McMillin (R) |
| ✔ | | Nikki Snyder (R) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Green convention
Green convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
N. Jefferey Sparling advanced from the Green convention for Michigan State Board of Education on June 15, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ |  | N. Jefferey Sparling (G) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
Scott Boman advanced from the Libertarian convention for Michigan State Board of Education on July 20, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Scott Boman (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
Ted Gerrard and Christine Schwartz advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Michigan State Board of Education on July 27, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ted Gerrard (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
| ✔ | | Christine Schwartz (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Working Class Party convention
Working Class Party convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
Mary Anne Hering advanced from the Working Class Party convention for Michigan State Board of Education on June 23, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Anne Hering (Working Class Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 14
Donavan McKinney defeated Wendy Watters and N. Jefferey Sparling in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 14 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Donavan McKinney (D) | 71.3 | 18,968 |
| Wendy Watters (R) | 27.0 | 7,174 | |
| N. Jefferey Sparling (G) | 1.7 | 444 | |
| Total votes: 26,586 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 14
Donavan McKinney defeated Kristina Lodovisi and Aaron Delikta in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 14 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Donavan McKinney | 59.3 | 4,452 |
 | Kristina Lodovisi | 28.4 | 2,129 | |
 | Aaron Delikta | 12.3 | 923 | |
| Total votes: 7,504 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 14
Wendy Watters advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 14 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wendy Watters | 100.0 | 2,591 |
| Total votes: 2,591 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Eddie Kabacinski (R)
Green convention
Green convention for Michigan House of Representatives District 14
N. Jefferey Sparling advanced from the Green convention for Michigan House of Representatives District 14 on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | N. Jefferey Sparling (G) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
N. Jefferey Sparling completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sparling's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I have worked as a teacher in several settings, public, parochial and charter schools in the K-12 system. I have seen and experienced the differences between the types of school overseen by the State Board of Education, and feel confident my experience will benefit students and taxpayers for the state.
- I am a teacher at heart and practice.
- Equity demands more than equal dollar amounts for students to succeed, demands access and opportunity.
- It is time for a Green change to be added to the mix!
Equity in opportunity for all students.
The board sets the direction for all schools that fall under its jurisdiction. Public funds should be treated as a sacred trust, not a cash cow for the greedy.
I look up to many, both in personal experience and through learning of their past contributions. The lives of Gandhi, King and Jesus are a major influence. My pastors and friends have also helped me through the years.
Integrity is the basis for trust, without it there is no trust.
Real experience in the classroom and an understanding of where we should be going so the schools are not catching up, but leading change agents for all.
To advocate for the best outcomes for our public K-12 system in Michigan.
A better educated population who can pursue their own dreams and not the economical or social dictates of others.
RFK assassination. 3rd grade playground politics changed with that event.
In reality, babysitting. $0.10 for my first paid job watching the children of a neighbour. My first taxable job was as a pizza maker when double digit gross pay was meaningful.
The one I am reading at the moment. If not, I would be reading it!
A command officer in an interstellar ship! See and learn new things!
Just about anything from the Beatles or Eagles...
Being someone in the front of the classroom, or crowd, rather than behinds the scenes worker.
The governance of practical and equitable guidance for our schools and preparing students to succeed.
The systemic stripping of authority for those whose expertise is education to those who control the purse strings. Policy should emanate from the Board not the legislature.
No, helpful for dealing with the bureaucracy but so long as the goal is the preparation of students for tomorrow's economy.
An understanding of the real classroom of today. Practical experience that helps form policy and decision in the students' best interest.
Dad jokes are part of the repertoire and any knock knock jokes my grandsons bring to me.
Green Party of Michigan.
It is critical for the public to have access to and an understanding of government operations to ensure the consent of the governed is being met through all expectations.
I do not oppose, but advise to use sparingly and let the ballot box be the true arbiter.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
N. Jefferey Sparling completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sparling's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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The power of politics rests with the people. The people need to take that power back from the two corporately dominated parties. Bring the needs of the people back to government and save our planet!
- Voting green is a viable alternative to the two party dominance. We change things one vote at a time.
- Preserve rights and access to health care and public goods at affordable and sustainable costs.
- Climate issues are impacting all aspects of our life, time to DO something about it!
Infrastructure and the environmental impact of said infrastructure. Future needs and science need to be driving factors for redevelopment and planning over corporate greed and political favours.
I look up to leaders who followed peace and confronted the tyranny they faced in their lifetimes. Ghandi, Mandella, King, Jesus of Nazareth to name a few. They all had a plan and remained true to their convictions even facing imprisonment and/or death.
Servant of the People is a show were are watching now. Though a comedic parody, we see many of the qualities exemplified in the reality of President Zelenskyy is living out his integrity and philosophy in the Ukraine despite the war imposed on it by Russia.
Honesty and integrity are the ones that come to mind initially. Perseverance follows closely as the results may be long in process but important nonetheless.
I will listen and learn from my constituents. I will legislate honestly on their behalf and be true to my states convictions going into office.
As noted above, honesty is important. Faithfulness to the vision you presented to the electorate is also a key factor. We have to do as we say to earn the trust of the people and follow through with the policies that will benefit all in the district and beyond.
A better earth for my children and grandchildren.
It is hard to sort out what experiences I was truly cognizant of at the time. In hindsight, and after some study, it is easy to identify events of significance. I would say the event most aware of at the time was the second moon landing in 1969. We watched it with awe in the classroom and had many opportunities to discuss it in my 4th-grade class with Ms. Herman and Mr. Cavenaugh. I would have been 9. I must also say I remember the shift to Nixon after the demise of RFK but not due to the assassination but more to the change in groupings on the the playground. That would have been in 3rd grade in Mrs. Kirkhoff's room.
Babysitting siblings, neighbour's children. First paid position with taxes taken out: Dino's pizza prep/pizza maker. Did that job for a few years through high school and into college. Eventually became the manager of the store I was first hired into.
The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The struggle and acceptance of the responsibility of being a ringholder.
Some sort of space explorer. They seem to have the greatest appreciation for the earth when they see what else is out there in the universe.
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong version) followed closely by the Ma Nama Na song (the Muppets).
Gaining the confidence to let my voice be heard. I have supported and worked for many causes and people. Being the spokesperson of those ideas is hard, but I feel I am ready for it!
Building a relationship of respect and cooperation to get the policies in place for the benefit of the state. The legislature and Governor serve the people as two cogs that need to mesh to get ahead for Michigan. One stops, the other cannot function, ie. both branches have to seek to be a team to move forward.
Infrastructure, education, and environment. These three elements are key to success and growth for the state and our future. The infrastructure is the base of our lives. Without water or power or roads, we all lose. Education will help us find the solutions with research and science to find new answers to our issues. Cleaning the environment means we will be able to exist in the future and appreciate what out infrastructure and education can do for our well-being.
The benefits are less delay in getting laws and policies in place, and only one legislative level to satisfy. The drawback here is that there are fewer opportunities for discussion and debate to formulate the policies and laws that affect us all. Concentration on a unicameral system might make it easier for the lobbyists to wield power and influence in the legislative process.
There are benefits to having experience. One knows about potential issues and relationships have already started to form. Experience is a teacher but the lessons still have to be learned and relearned as the mix of people changes over time. That being said, I think there are experiences outside of government and politics that make for good legislators. Diverse backgrounds in occupations, life experiences, and education make for a well-balanced mix filled with potential as well.
Yes. Nothing is accomplished in a vacuum. We need to build relationships with each other so that debate and decisions are made in a civil and socially beneficial manner. Having a relationship helps people understand each other, though they may not agree (they can agree to disagree...). These relationships, when honest, are a pathway to solutions for the social issues being resolved.
Though this is moot for another decade, it should be as blind a process as possible. No interference from political influence and free to create a truly representative selection of legislators.
Yes. DNR and environmental committees for sure. Education and Ways and Means would also be of interest.
Zolton Ferency is the first one to come to mind for Michigan. His perseverance and tenacity are inspirational. His liberal leanings also appeal to my sense of political identity.
No. At my age, I would like to make my commitment to this office and the future will be there for me and my grandchildren.
I hear the apathy and frustration of the electorate. The political party system favours corporate ideals and forgets the people who give the system the power. I will listen, learn from, and legislate my constituents.
Whatever the one is my grandson is telling me at the time. We are on knock-knock jokes of late.
The powers are granted through the Constitution and other laws. The legislature, by nature, cannot act swiftly but can be an effective oversight process for gubernatorial use of those powers. Sometimes decisions for the safety of the people have to be made, a single person in the governor is where that power should rest. Abuse should be guarded against by the legislature as well as looking to help create policies and procedures to make future responses better each time a situation arises.
Absolutely. No one solution can make it through the process but the key is to find common ground to act for the constituents and society. Guard against succumbing to temptation for self-gratification and power.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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