On September 1, Knox County will get a new chief executive, something that hasn’t happened in eight years. County Mayor Tim Burchett will leave the office he’s occupied since 2010, and political newcomer Glenn Jacobs will step in. Jacobs will have a complicated task ahead in the next four years, overseeing county agencies, schools, parks, road construction and a budget close to a billion dollars.
In this conversation with WUOT’s Brandon Hollingsworth, Jacobs talks about the responsiblities he faces, his desire to hear from people who disagree with him, his goals for working with other local governments, and other matters.