NKY Tribune Candidate Questions for James

How long have you lived in Covington, and what contributions have you made to the local community during your residency?

I have lived in Covington my entire life except when I was on active duty.  Growing up and continuing to live in Latonia, I’ve developed a deep love for our community that I don’t think I could find anywhere else.  Once I was discharged from my 2012 deployment to Afghanistan, I became involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and really pushed for community involvement as a way to continue to serve as veterans.  

While serving as the Commander at the Latonia VFW, I implemented their annual truck or treat event for neighborhood children, organized and participated in their Annual Kids Fishing Derby, and served on the committee to construct the Covington Vietnam Fallen Memorial.  I was also the Commander when the COVID lockdowns bega, where we ensured our elderly members had any food or supplies that would be needed, as well as collected and donated over 500 face masks to the Cincinnati and Ft Thomas VA facilities. 

I have also advocated keeping Charitable Gaming money as local as possible. Our contributions have supported projects such as the Latonia Little Library construction, the Holmes JROTC program, as well as ensuring children in need had a fulfilling Christmas through partnerships with Latonia Elementary.

I encourage anyone to just take a look at my personal Facebook page and see all of the work the VFW and myself have done over the years. 

James Toebbe (Photo provided)

What sets you apart from the other candidates running for a position on the City Commission?

I believe my understanding of Covington sets me apart from other candidates. As one of the only lifelong residents running – I was raised in a single-parent, low-income household. I share similarities with many in our community and understand the struggles and concerns of many residents. 

After serving my country, I had to transition back to civilian life, starting from the ground up as a temporary employee. I ended up staying at that company for ten years and moved to my current employer where I have worked my way up to an Account Manager, managing one of the largest accounts along with a dedicated team. My background is in data analysis, with over 20 years’ experience, beginning in the military, where I served as a cryptologist. 

My leadership roles within the military and veterans’ organizations have taught me the value of dedication and collaboration. While serving as a leader in veterans’ organizations, leading over 20,000 Kentucky members, I’ve worked with every level of government, advocating for policies that benefit the veteran community. I am committed at leveraging these connections to drive positive change within our city as well. 

What top priorities do you believe Covington should address, and what strategies do you propose to tackle them?

The top priority for any candidate should be ensuring the budget deficit is handled. The finances of the city are a big concern, and we all need to make sure that essential staff like our Fire Department and Police Department are not impacted. I believe the city should handle the deficit no different than any regular citizen should by halting all non-revenue generating expenses that impact the General Fund or improvements that are not absolutely necessary until the deficit is handled. 

In addition to the deficit, other hot topics that I hear about while meeting with residents are the inconsistencies with Code Enforcement between South Covington and the rest of the city. From talking with residents, it appears that Code Enforcement is stricter in South Covington, and issues are being brought up that are ignored in other neighborhoods. Recently, I spoke with a Latonia resident who was confused why their neighbors are never cited for tall grass when people in South Covington are. I want to ensure that we continue the proactive approach of Code Enforcement but be consistent throughout the entire city. 

Affordable housing is also a priority of mine. Many residents experienced significant increases to their property evaluations post pandemic that sent tax rates skyrocketing impacting our most vulnerable residents such as senior citizens as well as low-income families. The city needs to offer tax incentives to make sure that some housing development remains affordable, especially with the abandoned properties scattered throughout Covington. 

Does the City Commission effectively address constituent concerns?

This is a good question, and I think the answer would vary among many residents. I know that any issue I have ever raised with the city has always been addressed – but I also know where to direct them. As a leader, I’ve gained insight into community issues by being out in the neighborhoods and talking with others. Residents do not always know the proper way to address concerns or to where. I think this can be addressed by having our mayor and commissioners out in the communities more, interacting with the residents to see what issues they are facing and identifying trends. Since I’ve been campaigning and knocking on residents’ doors, the biggest issues I have encountered concern abandoned properties, as well as inconsistencies in code enforcement, and many do not know where to direct these concerns.

I remember a few years back, the mayor hosted town hall meetings throughout the different neighborhoods that residents could attend to ask questions and voice their concerns. I feel like these meetings need to continue at least annually throughout different neighborhoods, with both the mayor and commissioners present to hear directly from the residents. This is especially true for senior citizens, who may not know where to go online to find information but have shown that they can attend these town hall meetings.

How can the current process or protocol be enhanced to ensure city staff are accountable for addressing the issues raised by the City Commission?

Having never served on the commission, it is tough to really understand what the current challenges are. In general, a way to make sure that city staff remain accountable for addressing issues is by establishing clear communication channels between the commission and city staff and ensuring issues are properly documented and understood by everyone.

Roles of the city staff need to be clearly defined to ensure that everyone fully understands their duties and obligations in addressing every issue that is raised. The city needs to keep transparent reporting mechanisms where staff can regularly provide updates on addressing the issues. This could include periodic reports on status updates or computer-based platforms where progress can be tracked.

With everything, we need to make certain the city staff responds to every issue in a timely manner. This includes acknowledgment of receipt of the issue as well as an assessment of a plan of action to guarantee the issue is addressed properly.

How do you perceive the relationship between the county and the city?

I am not aware of any issues but I feel that leaders should always strive to strengthen relationships. I work as an account manager and know first-hand how relationship building is necessary for success. I have upcoming meetings with county leaders to discuss this exact topic and listen to their feedback as to how the city can be more proactive in conversations to ensure the success of both our city and county.  
It would be beneficial if the Fiscal Court meetings did not conflict with the City Commission meetings so we could attend both. 

Is there anything else you want to share or discuss regarding your candidacy or vision for Covington?

I just want to say that I am extremely grateful to be in the position that I am in today. I give full credit for my success throughout life to my father and grandparents for their amazing jobs raising me. I am extremely blessed to still have such a great support system from them, as well as the many friends that I consider family throughout this city and state. Everything I have volunteered for in my entire life, I have given 100% of my attention and strive to handle everything with full transparency and collaborative discussions to guarantee all concerns are addressed. I am never afraid to admit when I make a wrong decision and use those experiences to assist in my decision-making in the future. I have nothing to personally gain by running for office, and I am truly doing this to better my community.