Temple mayor releases letter on data center as recall effort grows
News Clip1:02KCENNews·Temple, Bell County, TX·4/30/2026
Temple Mayor Tim Davis released a letter supporting data centers amid a growing citizen recall effort. The mayor addressed concerns like water, electricity, noise, and traffic, highlighting the projected $7 million annual revenue for the city. Opposing citizens have gathered almost half of the 5,000 signatures needed to recall the mayor and two other city leaders following a 4-0 decision to allow another data center.
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Gov: City of Temple
Temple Mayor Tim Davis issued a letter to citizens defending the city's support for data centers, even as a recall effort against him and two other city leaders gains momentum. The mayor's letter addressed various citizen concerns, including water usage, electricity consumption, noise, taxes, and traffic, asserting that the data center must comply with state, local, and federal laws. He emphasized the significant financial benefit, projecting an annual revenue of approximately $7 million for the city, enough to fund four of Temple's eight fire stations.
Despite the mayor's reassurances, the citizen group advocating for the recall has expanded its efforts. What began with two individuals has grown to 200 volunteers, and they have already collected nearly half of the 5,000 signatures required for the recall petition in just over a week. The growing opposition follows a 4-0 city decision to permit another data center, which fueled public discontent.