Mayor Glenn Jacobs was stumping for Trump in Iowa as snowstorm buried Knox County

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs was in Iowa stumping for former president Donald Trump while a winter storm dumped up to 10 inches of snow on some parts of Knox County this week and shut down schools, businesses and even some major roads.

The county continues to dig out from the storm, one of the biggest winter storms to hit East Tennessee in the past quarter century. The National Weather Service raised the possibility of a winter storm as early as Jan. 11 and issued a winter storm watch on Jan. 13, the day Jacobs arrived in Iowa.

On Jan. 14, the day Jacobs spoke at a rally for Trump in Indianola, Iowa, the National Weather Service was predicting 6 to 8 inches of snow was about to fall on Knox County.

As Jacobs rallied voters up north to back Trump in Iowa's Republican caucus, he made a series of posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) about his work on the former president's campaign. Jacobs interspersed his work for Trump with updates from county agencies about their preparations for the impending storm and county office closures once the storm hit in earnest beginning Jan. 14.

“The mayor spent two days in minus-6 degree temperatures doing the county’s work from 12 hours away,” Knox County spokesman Mike Donila told Knox News on Jan. 16. “And yes, Mayor Jacobs believes that helping Donald Trump become the next president is county work.”

Donila confirmed to Knox News that Jacobs arrived in Iowa Jan. 13 and was scheduled to be home in time for the Knox County Commission's Jan. 16 work session.

"He had already touched base with (Knox County Engineering and Public Works Chief Engineer) Jim Snowden and he was keeping tabs on things," Donila said. "He had complete confidence in the folks with the Knox County Engineering and Public Works department."

Donila pointed out that county crews began preparations for the snowfall on the day Jacobs left, including applying salt to roads ahead of the storm.

Warnings also predicted travel would be delayed in East Tennessee, and they were correct. Jacobs' flight into the area that day was delayed until around 2 p.m., Donila said.

Flights at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville were suspended late Jan. 15 and early Jan. 16 as crews cleared the runways. The airport tallied 53 cancellations in 24 hours through midday Jan. 15.

"Mayor Jacobs’ flight was scheduled to get him back into Knox County early Tuesday but it was delayed," Donila said. "But, he was able to land around 2 p.m. and within roughly 40 minutes was meeting with directors and working with Engineering and Public Works crews for several hours."

There's a history of political leaders taking sharp criticism for how they handled winter storms. In 2021, when a winter storm crippled Texas and killed 246 people, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was blasted for jetting off to Mexico to get away from the freezing conditions and electricity outages.

Stories still surface about how Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic was ousted by angry voters months after a 1979 blizzard shut down the city.

Some local leaders have been communicating early and often from the ground in the lead up to and during the snowstorm.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon has provided frequent updates about the city's efforts during the storm, including holding press conferences Jan. 14 and Jan. 16 to address everything from snow removal to the opening of warming shelters for the homeless.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk announced on Jan. 11 there would be no school throughout the district on Jan. 12 because of expected high winds, and extended the cancellation on Jan. 15 through Jan. 17 because of the predicted snowstorm. Rysewyk held a press conference Jan. 15 to answer questions about his decision.

Democrats in Knox County pounced on Jacobs' absence, putting out a press release Jan. 16 criticizing Jacobs for "looking to climb the political ladder by cozying up to Trump in Iowa."

Donila told Knox News that Jacobs is a smart leader and can multitask.

"He can be in Iowa and still do his job, provide input and give directions from there," he said. "He doesn't physically need to drive the salt truck."

The severe weather in East Tennessee isn't expected to relent quickly. A wind chill warning is in effect until noon Jan. 17, and more snow could be on its way. Schools remain closed through Jan. 17.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Glenn Jacobs stumped for Trump in Iowa as snowstorm buried Knox County