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Independence Voters Decide Recall of Councilman Tied to Data Center Tax Vote
A 190-page petition triggered the special election after Perkins backed the $150 billion Nebius project and a 90% tax abatement.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, Independence First District voters recalled City Councilman John Perkins in a special election. Unofficial results showed about 68% supported his removal.
A 90% tax abatement granted to the European-owned Nebius Group sparked community unrest following Perkins' March vote favoring tax incentives for the massive AI data center project.
With Perkins' removal, three of the five council members who backed the development have now left office. Voters previously ousted two at-large council members in April.
McKenna Cobb, who led the recall effort, stated the outcome reflects a desire for accountability. The city will now schedule a special election to fill the vacancy.
This result is believed to be the first of 25 data center-related recall efforts nationwide to reach a ballot. Despite the outcome, Perkins stated, "It's okay to agree to disagree.