Independence city councilman recalled over data center vote

Name: Independence city councilman recalled over data center vote
Uploaded: 2026-09-08T16:40:26.000Z
Duration: 1 min 43 s
Description: An Independence City Councilman, John Perkins, was recalled by voters due to his support for a Nebius AI data center tax deal. Residents opposed the deal, specifically wanting to vote on the city ordinance, which a judge ruled was not subject to referendum. The recall highlights strong public opposition to data center developments in the city.

News Clip1:43KCTV5 News·Independence, Jackson County, MO·9/8/2026

An Independence City Councilman, John Perkins, was recalled by voters due to his support for a Nebius AI data center tax deal. Residents opposed the deal, specifically wanting to vote on the city ordinance, which a judge ruled was not subject to referendum. The recall highlights strong public opposition to data center developments in the city.

governmentopposition

Gov: Independence City Council, City of Independence

Independence City Councilman John Perkins was recalled by voters for his stance on a Nebius AI data center tax deal, with 68% of voters deciding his tenure was over. Residents had sought a public vote on the tax deal, which was part of a city ordinance. However, a judge ruled that the contract and bond deal took immediate effect, thus bypassing a referendum process as per the city's charter.

Perkins suggested that the city charter, being