KNOXVILLE, TENN. – April 9, 2018 – Knox County Mayoral Candidate Glenn Jacobs is calling for a full review of the Knox County Ethics Policy. Pointing to the on-going investigation of County Commissioners Bob Thomas and Charlie Busler, in which the Commissioners have used gray areas within the policy to defend an obvious conflict of interest, Jacobs cites the need for more clarity in the policy.
“Rules that can be bent are practically worthless,” Jacobs said. The ethics policy should provide an easily understood standard of conduct that protects the public’s interests and ensures a high level of confidence in the integrity of our elected officials. To help make the lines more definitive, I recommend the policy should be changed to reflect that County employees may not receive gifts of any kind.”
Jacobs applauds the Ethics Committee’s commitment to moving the investigation forward despite the Commissioners’ best efforts to hamper the investigation.
“The Ethics Committee has done a commendable job given all the obstacles that have been thrown in their way,” Jacobs added. “While Commissioners Thomas and Busler do their best to derail the investigation, all they are doing is dragging Knox County and its citizens through the mud. This is not how Knox Countians and their tax dollars should be represented. How can we stand to elect public officials who fail to recognize an obvious conflict of interest and then refuse to take responsibility for their actions?
Failing to show up for their own hearing in this matter illustrates that the Commissioners believe they are above the rules. How can the public have any trust in the County government when officials act in such an irresponsible and arrogant manner and when the system seems to be geared towards protecting them instead of the public interest?”
Jacobs is a Republican candidate for Knox County Mayor. A career with WWE spanning nearly 25 years has afforded Jacobs the opportunity to perform in front of millions of fans across the United States and in over 40 countries around the world but he has chosen East Tennessee as his home. He is a resident of East Tennessee of over 20 years and a small business owner. His business, Jacobs Insurance Associates, is the local champion of the Kindness Revolution, a national anti-bullying initiative. Along with his wife Crystal, he founded Kane’s Crusaders, a non-profit organization with the mission of bringing joy to the chronically ill teenagers of East Tennessee. Jacobs also serves on the advisory council at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital as well as the board of the Halls/Powell Boys and Girls Club.
I hope every single conservative in Knox County votes for Glenn Jacobs. He is the best hope for our future.