Home · Health · Sep 6 archive
Missouri Voters Recall Councilman Over Data Center Support
Confirmed
In Short: Independence, Missouri, voters ousted City Councilman John Perkins in a recall election, citing his support for tax incentives for a data center.
In a historic vote, Independence, Missouri, residents recalled City Councilman John Perkins after he supported tax incentives for a data center, making it the first successful recall of an elected official in a data-center-related campaign nationwide.
The recall petition garnered signatures from 8% of roughly 14,000 registered First District voters, leading to the early ballot initiative. According to local media, this was the first successful recall in such a campaign, with 70% of voters favoring the recall.
The decision comes amidst growing national opposition to data centers, with a Gallup poll showing that 70% of Americans oppose them being built near their homes. The construction of a 400-acre data center threatens local residents' lifestyles and has sparked a broader civic engagement on the issue.
In a statement, Maggie LeBeau, a local journalist, noted, 'In a time dominated by national politics, data centers have encouraged many Americans of differing ideologies to become more civically engaged, especially on the local level.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The incentive agreement uses Missouri’s Chapter 100 industrial development bond structure.
- Only a few months ago, Harp was on his tractor when his neighbor waved him down to tell him about a hyperscale data center possibly being built just 75 yards from his property.
- A 2026 study found that many data centers often approach or exceed the outdoor noise limit recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and that long-term noise pollution can cause heart disease and hearing loss.
- The construction of a 400-acre data center right down the street is threatening that lifestyle.
- In unofficial results, nearly 70% of voters favored the recall.
- In bold letters, it reads “No Data Center.” The once private resident has become the face of a local movement similar to others sprouting across the country: opposition to data centers.