Glenn Jacobs is “a good and decent man” who deserves consideration as Knox County’s next mayor. That’s the message from Dean Harned, community outreach director for the Jacobs campaign. He spoke Thursday at the Powell Republican Club, bringing along his wife, Allison, who has taught second grade at Powell Elementary School for 15 years.
Dean Harned teaches and chairs the social studies department at Gibbs High School. He said he met Glenn Jacobs 20 years ago at the Halls Walmart.
Jacobs, also known as professional wrestler Kane, was in town to raise money for the St. Mary’s Hospice. “About three years ago, Glenn reached out to me about getting involved,” Harned said.
The men met and Harned helped Jacob launch The Kindness Revolution at Gibbs High School. Harned said it changed the school culture.
“Here’s a guy who is 6-9, 330 pounds, talking about being bullied as a child. … He encouraged random acts of kindness and rewarded them with a school’s out pizza party.” Jacobs also started Kane’s Kick Hunger’s Can food drive, a competition between Carter and Gibbs high schools that raised closed to four tons of food for Second Harvest, Harned said. “Gibbs won!”
He said Jacobs supports public schools, where “we see miracles every day.” He wants to expand career technical education to help young people compete for jobs by forming mentoring partnerships with businesses. “He loves our kids and supports local control (of education.”
Harned said Jacobs is best-suited to continue the work of Mayor Tim Burchett, who is term-limited.