Festus voters oust incumbents following data center vote

Name: Festus voters oust incumbents following data center vote
Uploaded: 2026-04-08T03:46:32.000Z
Duration: 2 min 7 s
Description: Festus voters ousted four incumbent city council members following their approval of a controversial data center plan. Voter turnout in Festus was reportedly higher than usual for this election, signaling public dissatisfaction with the council's decision.

News Clip2:07FOX 2 St. Louis·Festus, Jefferson County, MO·4/8/2026

Festus voters ousted four incumbent city council members following their approval of a controversial data center plan. Voter turnout in Festus was reportedly higher than usual for this election, signaling public dissatisfaction with the council's decision.

zoningoppositiongovernment

Gov: Festus City Council, Jefferson County Clerk's Office

Voters in Festus, Missouri, initiated a shake-up on their City Council, ousting four incumbents who had recently approved a controversial data center plan. According to Jeff Bernthal reporting from the Jefferson County Clerk's Office in Hillsborough, unofficial results released around 9 PM indicated a strong desire for change among Festus residents.

The Jefferson County Clerk noted that voter turnout in Festus was unusually high for an April election, exceeding the county-wide average of just over 13%. This increased turnout is attributed to the recent city council vote on the data center project. The election results saw Carl Weekly win in Ward One, Ellen McCarthy in Ward Two, Dan Moore in Ward Three, and Rick Bellville in Ward Four, replacing the four incumbents. The results remain unofficial until certified, with state law requiring hand counting of some ballots.