By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, Ph.D.
The Truth Contributor
Progress is not inevitable. It’s up to us to create it. – Barack Obama
Since first joining the Toledo City Council in 2018, Nick Komives has distinguished himself by moving beyond routine administration and establishing a record as perhaps the most prolific architect of legislation in that body’s history.
Raised in Genoa and rooted in Toledo, Komives has built a reputation for turning advocacy into action by crafting a steady stream of new ordinances that not only meet urgent needs but also strengthen Toledo’s foundation for decades to come.
With his re-election bid underway, Komives sat down with me to reflect on his distinctive approach to public service, revisit the many legislative accomplishments that have defined his tenure, and share the priorities he hopes to carry forward into another term.
Perryman: You’ve served on city council since 2018. What accomplishments are you most proud of?
Komives: I would say that my main focus has been on water issues—whether eliminating lead pipes, addressing affordability or making improvements to our public infrastructure to increase energy efficiency—along with advancing work in the energy and natural gas sector to bring a new system online at our landfill, which will bolster our budget and make us more sustainable.
Perryman: What lessons have you learned during your tenure that you plan to carry into the next term if reelected?
Komives: One of the first lessons I learned is that change is difficult. Getting folks to understand why we are making various decisions is a challenge, and rightfully so. People should understand what their government is doing. Moving forward, I am committed to continuing to communicate more effectively and being more transparent to build greater trust with our residents.
Perryman: As you know, there has been an erosion of trust in our institutions. And here locally, Black and Brown residents often feel that the city government is distant or unresponsive. How have you worked to rebuild trust and ensure real representation for those communities?
Komives: I’ve been proud to work with the mothers of victims of gun violence on a march in the Junction neighborhood. I’ve been proud to work alongside The Junction Coalition and other community groups throughout this city to eradicate lead pipes and create affordable options for water. It all comes down to authenticity, showing up and letting them know that you actually care.
Perryman: What more can we do to invest in young people as a matter of preventing the cycles of violence taking place in specific Toledo neighborhoods?
Komives: Unfortunately, in a state like Ohio, we’re living under laws that make it extremely easy for people to get their hands on very deadly and violent weapons. You mix that with disinvestment in things like public education, and in neighborhoods that could desperately use public infrastructure improvements and job opportunities, and you wind up with a scenario where, in particular, our youngsters often feel like they don’t have a whole lot of a future.
I have been really proud to support the additional funding that we utilized to create more after-school programs and summer programming for kids. We’ve been seeing the fruit of that labor, but this is a problem that won’t be corrected overnight. It’s not just about making sure that kids can go to a coding camp or to a football camp; it’s about really feeling that we care about our kids. That is why my focus will continue to be on improving our neighborhoods, providing access to our residents and ensuring that people not only feel heard, but are heard.
Perryman: Connected to that, we see a lot of investment going on in areas such as downtown. What role do you see city council playing in ensuring that economic growth benefits every day Toledoans and not just the big developers?
Komives: The city has been making investments in downtown, but they are in things that are public goods, not just a tax break or a giveaway to a developer. We are investing in parks and public infrastructure, and those things will, in return, attract more development. That is also true in our neighborhoods all across the city. You will see that as we continue to invest in places like Swayne Field, the new housing we have invested in the South end, and the development you see near Toledo Hospital. We didn’t invest a lot of money in the Toledo Hospital development, but due to the influx of many apartments and hundreds of people, we will undoubtedly see further investment from the private sector.
So, we must keep investing in public infrastructure and goods that everyone shares, while also ensuring housing development is viable. Too often, projects stall because the numbers don’t work, but without adequate housing, our residents simply have nowhere to live. So, we definitely have to strike that balance.
Perryman: Toledo has seen significant growth in entrepreneurship and small businesses since the COVID-19 pandemic and the gig economy expansion. What role should the city play in supporting this momentum, particularly for women and minority-owned businesses?
Komives: There will always be a significant focus on saving the Jeep plants and similar operations, as they contribute a substantial amount of tax revenue to support our city. And, although large employers remain vital to Toledo’s economy, most of our businesses have fewer than 50 employees—and many fewer than 20. That’s why city council has prioritized infrastructure improvements and grant programs such as façade upgrades and the White Box grant, which help small businesses modernize and grow.
We’ve also invested in shared spaces for food truck operators and other entrepreneurs. Many entrepreneurs operate food trucks and, for them, the struggle can be finding a place where they can prepare a large amount of their food, as you can’t do that in a food truck. As we become more creative with these types of investments that can be shared among our residents, our entrepreneurs will continue to succeed.
Perryman: Most people think of the caretaker or procedural focus of the standard council member day-to-day governance model rather than legislating. What makes you stand out is that you have consistently brought relevant issues to the forefront and turned them into policies and laws. What will you pursue in the next four years that could actually change the direction of Toledo, given your prolific legislative history?
Komives: I take pride in the number of ordinances I’ve brought forward, especially those tackling housing rights and discrimination. That work has shown me how interconnected our challenges are. In the next term, I aim to continue exploring creative solutions—whether it’s securing revenue to fund eviction defense or investing in infrastructure that will last for another generation.
One initiative I’m especially excited about is a convenience drop-off site for waste. It’s a win on multiple fronts: curbing illegal dumping, beautifying neighborhoods, providing residents easier access to services and generating new revenue for the city during challenging budget times.
Perryman: Finally, how do you want the communities you serve to remember you whenever you decide to complete your tenure on Toledo City Council?
Komives: My legacy is the cultural shift we’ve created around sustainability. When I began my tenure, I was often the lone voice pushing for environmental initiatives. Today, the entire council embraces them, and the public has responded with strong support. You can see it in the use of services like food waste drop-off sites and in the way sustainability is now part of how we think as a city.
Toledo’s identity has always been tied to the lake in our backyard, and refocusing on that relationship will only strengthen and enhance our future.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, PhD, at drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org