Missouri Voters Appear to Recall City Councilman Over Data Center Support

Voters in Independence, Missouri, have overwhelmingly voted to recall City Councilman John Perkins, who supported significant tax breaks for a data center. The recall effort gained traction after residents found they could not bring the tax incentives to a public vote due to the city's charter.

Perkins was one of five council members who approved the tax incentives for the Nebius AI data center in March with a 5-2 vote. When citizens could not initiate a referendum on the incentives, organizers targeted Perkins, a "yes" vote, for recall. Two other council members who voted for the incentives are no longer in office due to separate elections.

The recall required signatures from 8% of registered voters in the First District, which has approximately 14,000 registered voters. Outside polling locations, signs reflected a divided community, with some voters expressing frustration over the tax abatement and others supporting Perkins' efforts to bring economic development.

Perkins stated he did not anticipate the recall reaching this stage and believes the process itself is flawed, as the city charter does not require a specific cause for recall. He noted that the lower signature threshold in his district made him an easier target compared to citywide elected council members.

A political science professor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City indicated that this recall is the first of approximately 25 data center-related recall efforts nationwide to reach a ballot.