KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As the most snow in 24 hours fell in Knox County in the last 30 years, Mayor Glenn Jacobs was trying to get back, said Mike Donila, the county Director of Communications.
Jacobs traveled to Iowa to campaign for President Trump ahead of the Iowa Caucus. He returned to Knoxville on Tuesday afternoon, after most of the snow had fallen.
Donila said he, and county staff, learned of Jacobs' trip to Iowa around Christmas. On Friday before the storm, county leaders relied on forecasts which called for snow to arrive Monday. Knox County Public Works Senior Director Jim Snowden said highway crews were already preparing trucks.
On Saturday afternoon, the Mayor was scheduled to leave for Iowa, Donila said. At that point, Donila emphasized, the forecast did not call for snow to fall on Sunday night.
Donila said the Mayor was in constant contact with him, Snowden, Dwight Van der Vate and other county staff.
"It's not like they don't have phones and internet in Iowa," Donila said.
Snowden said highway crews had already started brining roads with the mayor's approval on Saturday.
Jacobs planned to return on Tuesday, Donila said. On Sunday, when snow started to fall, Jacobs considered returning Monday. He wasn't able to when McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville shut down, Donila said.
His originally planned flight for Tuesday was delayed and Jacobs returned to Knoxville just before 2 p.m.
"Him being in Iowa would've been no different than him being trapped in his Knox County home like the rest of us," Donila said. "He was able to gather information from the experts and his well-trained, experienced staff and provide guidance and direction, which is exactly what he did in Iowa."
Democrats, meantime, seized on Jacobs' absence.
“While Knox County is knee deep in the worst snowstorm in years, our county mayor is looking to climb the political ladder by cozying up to Trump in Iowa,” Knox Dems spokesman Jack Vaughan said in a statement to 10News on Tuesday.
"Time and again he abandons Knox County in search of higher office. This time is no different. Jacobs would rather pal around with MAGA personalities than do the hard work of digging 500,000 neighbors out of the snow," added Debbie Helsley, the Secretary of Knox County Democrats, in a statement on Wednesday.
Snowden said Knox County's 24 snow plows have worked to clear the snow from streets since Sunday night.
"I know some of his detractors wanted him out personally driving a snow plow but they would've called it a publicity stunt if he did," Donila said. "The mayor is a great leader who is able to multitask."
Former Knox County Mayor and current U.S. Representative Tim Burchett rode along in snow plows several times during his tenure.
Former President Donald Trump thanked Jacobs for his attendance in Iowa on Sunday.