John Priddy
Profession: VP - Health Plan Operations Colorado Access
Biography: I am currently the Vice President of Health Plan Operations for Colorado Access. Colorado Access is a non-profit, healthcare payer that manages contracts on behalf of the State of Colorado's Department of Health Care Policy & Financing. I have been with Colorado Access for 10 years, and prior to that I had an extensive career in the Telecommunications and Technology sectors. My MBA with an emphasis in Finance and Accounting is from the University of Washington, Seattle. My undergraduate degree, in Finance is from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and I am also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). I am a candidate for the SSPRD Board because of my desire to serve the community and the value my family and I have received from South Suburban programs and facilities over these past 24 years.
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkpriddy/
Why are you running for the South Suburban board?
Most mornings I start my day with a work out at the Lone Tree Rec Center. We have been members since the day the Lone Tree facility opened. My son worked at the Sheridan Rec Center and I can pinpoint the spot on the Goodson Center Basketball Court where my daughter made her first basketball shot. These facilities, the people that work there, the community we've built and the friends we've made there, are all an integral part of my family's life. We have benefited from our access to the facilities and programs of the SSPRD District for over 20 years. I am fortunate in now being able to support the community by serving on the Board.
When it comes to serving on this board - what are your top three priorities?
1. Plan for Growth;
2. Preserve & Maintain our Parks and Facilities;
3. Connect with our communities and its diverse set of priorities.
What needs to be done to address those priorities?
As I review the Guiding Principles set out in the 2022 Master Plan and the 2022 Strategic Plan my top 3 Priorities are aligned and integral to the work ahead of the District. The recognition that the District has to effectively Plan and manage growth is a recurring theme in the Planning Document. As a Parks and Rec district that is over 60 years old it is imperative that we continue to maintain and improve these facilities. Finally, the district serves a broad and increasingly diverse population - residents across six cities, and both Unincorporated portions of Arapahoe and Douglas counties. To successfully meet the needs of residents and stakeholders across this diverse set of constituencies is a skill and one I hope to be able to contribute to as a Board member.
With continued growth in the region and call for more rec centers and youth programs - How does the board keep property taxes from going up and meet budget obligations?
Fiscal responsibility is a Guiding Principle of the district, and in my interactions with the Executive Leadership of SSPRD and review of their publicly available financial material, I believe the team is as committed to prudent and judicious use of the public dollar as I would be as a Board Member. My top priority is to Plan for Growth - Therefore I view my role as a Board Member, in planning for growth in the region, to be a voice for disciplined fiscal management of the resources we steward, and not to reflexively reach to increase property taxes to fund growth.
If elected, how would you improve community outreach to educate all eligible voters about upcoming elections, property taxes and South Suburban business?
Without a doubt, there are improvements we can make to engage a broader electorate about the elections, taxes and the business of the SSPRD district. My intent is to first listen and learn. With that skill and with the expertise of the district's professional staff, I will seek and advocate for ways to increase participation in the election process.
