Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. State Sen. Daniel Sparks, a two-term Republican lawmaker from Tishomingo County, announced in his hometown of Belmont on Tuesday evening that he will run in the Republican primary for state auditor next year.  S parks, an attorney with a master’s in taxation, told Mississippi Today in an interview that he would be an effective state auditor because of his experience in the Legislature, serving on the Appropriations Committee and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.  If elected, Sparks said he wants to lead the office in examining whether agencies are using taxpayer funds effectively and whether public bodies are actually accomplishing the goals they say they’ve accomplished. “I’ve always operated under the philosophy of how can we do more with less,” Sparks said.  Sparks was first elected to the Legislature in 2019, and he represents portions of Tishomingo, Itawamba and Prentiss counties. He was unopposed for reelection in 2023. During his tenure in the state Senate, he has served as chairman of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee.  During his tenure, he has scrutinized the Mississippi Department of Corrections, proposed reforms to Mississippi’s implementation of the federal food assistance program and authored workforce development bills.  Sparks is the second person to announce a run for state auditor. Former state Rep. Nick Bain, a Republican who represented Alcorn County in the Legislature for three terms, announced in April that he was running for the post.  The role of the state auditor is to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent legally and to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in state and local government.  Current State Auditor Shad White has not announced his future political plans, but he has said he’s considering running for governor next year. Others so far who have announced campaigns for statewide offices in 2027 are: Governor:  Andy Gipson (R) Philip Gunn (R) Lieutenant Governor:  Michael Watson (R) Secretary of State:  Shuwaski Young (R) State Auditor:  Nick Bain (R) Daniel Sparks (R) ...read more read less