Learn more about the candidates running in the 2023 South Suburban Board of Directors election. View other election details, including important deadlines and ways to vote, at ssprd.org/election. 

Watch the candidate forum, hosted by the Arapahoe and Douglas Counties League of Women Voters on April 15, 2023. 

Michael Edwards

Why are you interested in becoming a candidate for the Board?
I believe SSPRD is a very important community asset as it provides health and wellness opportunities for the entire community – from toddlers on playgrounds, to school-aged kids playing team and individual sports, to runners and bicyclists traversing the miles of trails, to adults enjoying golf, tennis, paddle ball or just taking daily walks through parks and open spaces. My children have taken karate, ballet, and figure skating lessons through SSPRD. My daughter played on a basketball team for two years which I helped coach. In my youth, I played a lot of team sports and was able to earn an athletic scholarship that enabled me to pay for college. I want to be on the board to advocate for all community members on how SSPRD can maintain or improve access to these healthy activities and potentially life-changing opportunities through sport. A neighbor recently told me she likes walking and birdwatching on the trail through Willow Creek because it makes her happy. She added that it resets her mind toward mystery and wonder.

Work/Career:
After graduating from CSU with a degree in Business Administration, I worked as an independent landman, researching property title in various States including Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Idaho, Tennessee and Missouri. I joined a company in 1994 with just five employees that grew to over 200 employees – it was based in Santa Barbara, California. Initially, I wore many hats – property manager, health insurance consultant, IT and network lead – in addition to my main responsibilities for mineral leases, royalties, acquisition due diligence, environmental reports. After attending law school at night, I worked for the general counsel on various legal matters but was also responsible for government relations and public relations. When that company went public on the New York Stock Exchange, I moved back to the Denver headquarters and was responsible for Investor Relations. After that company went private, I was hired by another public company to handle Investor Relations. There, I was again responsible for presentation materials and organizing meetings for the CEO, COO, SVP and Board Members with Institutional Investors of the company which included Fidelity, Blackrock, State Street, T. Rowe Price, Wellington and many others. I also interacted with stock analysts from major commercial banks (JP Morgan, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citi Bank, Capital One, Morgan Stanley) to help them understand how to model our annual and longer-term financial forecasts.

Board experience:

I was a board member and chair of the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce (now merged with the Santa Barbara Chamber) (1998-2005). For five years, I was a board member on the Denver Metro Economic Development Corporation (2007-2012). I was also a board member for Clean Seas LLC, a cooperative spill response organization in the Santa Barbara Channel responsible for maintaining a fleet of vessels and equipment.

Past and current service to volunteer organizations:

• Denver Scholarship Foundation: Corporate Giving Committee.
• Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network: Advisory Board.

Recreation interests:
Hiking, mountain biking.

Personal interests:
Wildlife photography, horses, gardening, Colorado history, geology..

City of residence:
Centennial

Number of years you’ve been a resident of the District:
15 years.

Contact:
(720)237-4496 cell, Michael.edwards1542@gmail.com

John Priddy

Why are you interested in becoming a candidate for the Board?
My family and I have benefited from access to the facilities and programming of the SSPRD for the past 24 years. I still start most mornings with a workout at the Lone Tree Rec Center, having been there since the day it opened its doors, and prior to that the Goodson Center. These facilities, the people that work there, and the friends we have made there are an integral part of our lives. I am grateful to be at a stage in life where I can support the South Suburban Community through my participation on the SSPRD Board.

Work/Career:
I work for Colorado Access – a non-profit company, where I lead our HealthPlan Operations teams. We are a healthcare payer that manages contracts on behalf of the State of Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

The last decade of my career has been in healthcare. Prior to that I began my career in telecommunications at Pacific Northwest Bell and U S WEST. I also worked for MediaOne, AT&T Broadband and 360 Networks.

Board experience:

• Current member Legal Regulation Committee of the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which serves under the auspices of the Colorado Supreme Court in regulating attorneys and the practice of law in Colorado.
• Past Board member Café 180, Englewood, CO
• Past Board member Guadalupe School, Salt Lake City, UT
• Past Board member Corning Family YMCA, Corning, NY

Past and current service to volunteer organizations:

• Volunteer Youth Basketball Coach
• Pax Christi Catholic Church, Highlands Ranch, CO

Recreation interests:
Golf, hiking, biking, and soccer

Personal interests:
I hope to join the SSPRD Board to build on what the district does well and to ensure that it remains a vibrant, viable resource for the community. SSPRD’s accreditation by CAPRA and its guiding principles of Quality, Wellness, Connecting to Nature and Sustainability are a great foundation to build upon for the benefit of families and district residents. My intent as a Board member is to ensure that the Board continues to provide value and great recreational programming for district residents, families, and its employees. My family and I have benefitted from the programming and community building in South Suburban—I hope to pay that benefit forward.

City of residence:
Lone Tree

Number of years you’ve been a resident of the District:
24

Contact:
303-925-1103, jpriddy7@gmail.com

Pam Eller

Why are you interested in becoming a candidate for the Board?
I was a dedicated and conscientious South Suburban Board member from 2010 to 2018. Now I believe that my experience, current and historical knowledge of the District, and relationships with the leaders of the cities, counties, and organizations who partner with South Suburban are assets that again will be of considerable value in the four years ahead. This is why I’ve decided to seek a Board seat once again, and why those who support me because of my past record believe that I am the best choice to fill one of the two open board seats in this election.

Being a member of the Board for South Suburban is a privilege and honor, filled with challenges and opportunities to create the best park and recreation experiences for our residents of all ages and abilities. I am confident that in the past I gave full and thoughtful consideration to all resident requests and concerns, and to every agenda item that came before the Board. I have served the South Suburban community to the best of my ability, and I promise to do so again if you elect me on May 2nd.

During my tenure, the Board worked with staff in helping to develop the District Master Plan and the accompanying Strategic Plan and Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (2018-2022). These documents delineate the guiding principles for the District and outline the measures for implementing those goals. They guide the decision-making process over the next five to ten years. These plans are currently being updated and will be implemented within the next two to three years. I look forward to participating in that process once again.

I am honored to be endorsed by four former Board members, whose terms overlapped mine, and who know of the value, passion, commitment, and work ethic that I will once again bring to the Board and our South Suburban community.

Work/Career:
I retired from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1997. I spent 27 years in research and teaching positions in the Department of Anatomy. I helped develop many of the teaching materials that are still in use at medical schools around the country.

Board experience:

• South Suburban Parks and Recreation District (2010-2018)
• Arapahoe County Ethics Committee (2019-2021)
• Columbine Valley Planning and Zoning Commission (current)
• Burning Tree HOA (Swimming Pool Director for approximately 10 years)

Past and current service to volunteer organizations:

• PTO (various positions, including President) at Wilder Elementary, Goddard Middle School, Heritage High School
• South Suburban Ladies Golf Club 18-hole (Membership Chair, Handicap Chair)
• Littleton Ladies Golf Club 18-hole (President, Membership Chair, Handicap Chair, Treasurer (current)
• Englewood Ladies Golf Association 18-hole (President, Membership Chair, Handicap Chair and Tournament Chair)

Recreation interests:
Golf, tennis, walking and biking the trails, personal fitness.

Personal interests:
In 2010, my husband Mike and I, along with our two daughters, Shannon and Karen, built a cabin on private property surrounded by Forest Service Wilderness Area in the White River National Forest. It is a rustic cabin with spring water, no electricity, and only outdoor facilities. The trailhead is five miles from the cabin, so we backpack in to reach it. This cabin is our family retreat and our pride and joy. Over the last few years we have enjoyed introducing our four grandchildren to tech-free “wilderness living.”

We also enjoy road trips and other travel, and I am an avid reader, mostly of history.

City of residence:
Columbine Valley in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, on the west side of SSPRD.

Number of years you’ve been a resident of the District:
Our family moved into the District from Denver in 1986, 37 years ago.

Contact:
303-829-7577, pameller@aol.com

Ken Lucas

Why are you interested in becoming a candidate for the Board?
I am currently a member of the SSPRD Board of Directors and have throughout my tenure seen SSPRD expand and provide the increasingly wider variety of premier services and amenities to the more than 150,000 residents in the six cities/towns that they serve. I have also experienced having a great working relationship with the very professional staff members while serving on the board. Many new milestones have been accomplished by the board; i.e. the opening of the new Sports Complex in Douglas County, Dave Lorenz Regional Park, City of Lone Tree’s expansion Ridge Gate and their planning of a new regional park. Pickle Ball courts are being built and more in various planning stages. Other projects that are in progress is a new club house being built at the Littleton Golf & Tennis Club and the replacement of the bubble at the Family Sports complex with a permanent building. It has been a great experience to have been part of this growth and would like to continue my role as a board member and treasurer if re-elected.

Work/Career:
I am now retired from over 30 years of senior level finance and accounting positions as well as owning several businesses that were heavily involved in venture capital, private equity, securities, and publicly traded companies.

U.S. Navy combat veteran with three tours of duty in Viet Nam.

City of Centennial where I served for 8 years as a city council member and mayor pro tem.

Education:

• BA - Public Affairs - Drake University
• MPA - Master’s Degree in Public Administration - Drake University
• MBA - Master’s Degree in Finance and Accounting - Regis University

Board experience:
Currently serve on South Suburban Parks & Recreation District Board of Directors and serve as Treasurer and member the Audit Committee as well as liaison to the City of Centennial.

Over the years I have also sat on many boards in both the public and private company sectors during my years in venture capital and private equity investing.

Past and current service to volunteer organizations:

• Senior Men’s Golf Club @ South Suburban Golf Course.
• Many committee’s when I was serving as a council member with the City of Centennial.

Recreation interests:
Golf, gym exercising, walking the dogs every day.

Personal interests:
Staying physically fit, lots of reading, staying abreast of local and state politics, and improving my golf game.

City of residence:
Centennial

Number of years you’ve been a resident of the District:
22 years

Contact:
720-355-5881, Lucas.ken@gmail.com

Elizabeth Watson

Why are you interested in becoming a candidate for the Board?
I believe that South Suburban Board members should be committed to transparency and providing their in-District community with an active, inclusive public involvement process.

South Suburban is a taxpayer-funded organization that will receive almost $30,000,000 from property taxes paid by in-District residents in 2023 alone. I am running for the Board because I believe in-District taxpayers should know exactly how their taxes are being spent. And I believe South Suburban’s focus, its mission and vision, should be providing services that benefit their in-District community. That starts with providing timely, accurate information to all in-District members. Saying, “it’s on the SSPRD website” is not enough.

I am dedicated to working with South Suburban to ensure that members of the District are informed, involved and engaged in the organization that their tax dollars support. Taxpayers have rights, even when the government agency they are being taxed by is a park and recreation organization.

Work/Career:
I have over 15 years of experience as a marketing professional for architectural and engineering firms, including CH2M Hill, GEI Engineering and DHM landscape architecture. As a marketing manager I have led multi-disciplinary teams preparing proposals, presentations and client-focused events. I graduated from Colorado State University, Pueblo, with a Mass Communications degree with a double major in journalism and public relations.

In December 2022, I started my own marketing company, Watson Marketing & Public Relations, LLC. Instagram @watsonmarketingandpr

Board experience:
I have served as a volunteer on Boards, but those were not elected positions. I am not a politician. I am a small business owner, a homeowner, a Colorado native and an active user of South Suburban’s amenities, both rec centers and open space and trails.

Three members of the South Suburban Board will be serving their second term. Working alongside these dedicated and experienced community members would be a privilege. This election is an opportunity for taxpayers to decide if there is value in electing Board members who will bring an additional renewed focus on serving the in-District taxpayers and contribute fresh, new ideas.

Past and current service to volunteer organizations:
I have nine years of experience as an in-classroom volunteer in Littleton Public School classrooms. I have volunteered as the Marketing Co-Chair for the Denver Arthritis Walk and have also volunteered as the Public Relations Committee Lead for the Colorado chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services.

Recreation interests:
I enjoy several sports at the recreational level. I play tennis, sand volleyball, and pickleball on a fairly regular basis. My most regular recreation is walking our dog, Newt, on South Suburban trails.

Personal interests:
Reading and writing are high up on my list of personal interests. And while I don’t consider myself a “foodie,” I like to cook. I have three children. My daughter is 19 and away at college. My two boys are at a LPS high school. And my husband Matthew still loves his job that he’s been at for 31 years.

City of residence/District residence:
Centennial

Number of years you’ve been a resident of the District:
19 years

Contact:
303-956-2780 or votewatsonforbod@gmail.com

Alexis Barrere

Why are you interested in becoming a candidate for the Board?
Our parks, open spaces, trails and recreation programs are integral to the quality of life that we enjoy. Most important, they are crucial to our health and well-being regardless of our age.

As a pediatric nurse practitioner, I understand the need for recreation and outdoor activities for the physical, mental, and emotional health of kids and youth. Obesity and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents have surged since the start of the pandemic. Giving children access to nature and nature play activities creates a sense of wonderment which allows kids to cope with stress and improve emotional health. Parks and natural spaces also help us build meaningful connections, bringing generations together in joy and sunshine. I have two young children and my parents are very much a part of their lives – parks are where many memories are created between these two generations.

If elected, I will ensure:

• We’re good stewards of the District’s 3,000 acres of parkland, 100+ miles of trails, and 4 recreation centers for the enjoyment of people of all ages and abilities. I hear from citizens that they are concerned that active recreation facilities and activities for which SSPRD collects fees are prioritized over maintenance and enhancement of parks and open spaces. I want to ensure that the lands SSPRD is stewards of are getting the attention and funding they require for ALL to enjoy.
• We fulfill the 2023 Master Plan goals and objectives in fiscally responsible and sustainable ways. While Sustainability is one of SSPR's four guiding principles, I question current leadership's commitment to this important principle. Given the accelerating climate change, SSPRD can do more.
• We make certain that the voices of all residents in the district have equal voices in the future of SSPRD. There is a lack of voting participation from different parts of our community I question whether all perspectives are being heard. There are 151,000 citizens in the SSPRD district yet only 4,000 voted in last year in the SSPRD board election. We need to do better.

Finally, I was born and raised in Littleton, participated as a child in gymnastics at the Goodson Center and now take my daughter there for gymnastics. I love this community and want to do my part to continue building on the work that’s been done.

Work/Career:
2006 to Present: Registered Nurse

• Critical Care Nurse since 2008
• Licensed Pediatric Nurse Practitioner since 2014
• Primary care provider for communities in Sheridan, Littleton, Englewood and Denver since 2016

2016 to Present: Senior Instructor and faculty member for the CU College of Nursing

Board experience:
City of Littleton Boards of Appeals and Adjustment since 2021.

Past and current service to volunteer organizations:
Current:

• Nurse Practitioner at 9News Health Fair
• COVID-19 vaccination clinics

Past:

• Overnight volunteer at a shelter for homeless youth
• Nurse for a homeless youth clinic

Recreation interests:
Camping, rock climbing, yoga, skiing, and mountain biking.

Personal interests:
My family: Husband, Elliott Barrere, and two children ages 2 and 5. I also enjoy knitting, macrame, and gardening.

City of residence:
Littleton

Number of years you’ve been a resident of the District:
24 years

Contact:
206-914-6638, amugele@gmail.com