City Council Incumbents Ousted In Elections Over Data Center In Missouri

Voters in Festus, Missouri, delivered a sweeping rebuke to their local government this week, removing four incumbent city council members just days after officials approved a massive $6 billion data center project—an outcome that underscores growing grassroots resistance to opaque decision-making and top-down development deals.

The municipal election effectively reshaped half of the city’s eight-member council, following the March 30 vote to greenlight a hyperscale data center spanning roughly 360 acres of wooded land on Festus’ southwest side. The unusually high turnout reflected deep frustration among residents who felt sidelined during the approval process.

The backlash in Festus mirrors a broader trend emerging across the country, where communities are increasingly pushing back against large-scale data center developments and the political machinery often driving them.

“It’s really the way the deal was handled that led to this kind of uprising,” Rick Belleville, who defeated Ward 4 incumbent Jim Tinnin, told Politico.

All four incumbents on the ballot—Jim Collier, Brian Wehner, Bobby Benz, and Jim Tinnin—were voted out, according to local reporting. Their challengers—Karl Weekley, Allen Joseph McCarthy, Dan Moore, and Belleville—ran on platforms centered on transparency, accountability, and opposition to the controversial project.

At the center of the dispute is a development agreement between the city and CRG, a subsidiary of construction firm Clayco. While the scale of the project promises economic investment, critics argue that the process raised serious concerns about governance and public trust.

Robert “Bob” Clark, executive chairman of Clayco, acknowledged the tension and signaled a willingness to engage with the newly elected officials.

“We are fully committed, on behalf of everyone at CRG, to working closely with them,” Clark said. “We will ensure that everyone understands both the progress we’ve made so far, and the steps still needed to bring the project to completion. We will work together diligently and respectfully. We will carefully listen to all questions and concerns and work hard to find solutions together.”

Opponents of the data center warn that such large-scale developments can strain local resources, potentially driving up electricity, land, and water costs for residents. Supporters, however, argue that these facilities bring high-paying jobs and are essential to supporting the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies.

Legal challenges are already underway. A lawsuit filed by project opponents seeks to invalidate the rezoning and development agreement, alleging unlawful “spot zoning,” violations of open records laws, inadequate public notice, and undisclosed communications between city officials and the developer. City Attorney Brian Malone has rejected those claims, maintaining that all legal requirements were followed.

“The City of Festus took all steps required by law to enact regulations applicable to data centers, to annex property, to rezone property to I-1, and to approve a development agreement,” Malone told St. Louis news station KSDK.

Meanwhile, grassroots activism continues to gain momentum. The group Wake Up JeffCo has launched a recall effort targeting the mayor and remaining council members, aiming to halt the project entirely and replace current leadership with officials more aligned with voter concerns.

Campaign finance records add another layer to the story. A political action committee backed by labor unions supportive of data center expansion reportedly poured nearly $40,000 into the race in support of the incumbents—efforts that ultimately failed to sway voters.

Public records obtained by residents also suggest that political backing for the project extended beyond the city level, with communications indicating support from Missouri political figures, including Mike Kehoe. The same documents reportedly contained remarks from unidentified officials critical of local opposition.

Despite the controversy, Clayco maintains it acted appropriately throughout the process.

“All communications were conducted through appropriate and customary channels, consistent with applicable laws and regulations. We will pursue the case through the proper legal process and look forward to a successful outcome,” Clark said.

The results in Festus send a clear message: local voters are increasingly unwilling to accept major development decisions made behind closed doors—regardless of the promised economic benefits. As debates over infrastructure, technology, and community impact intensify nationwide, this Missouri city may serve as a warning shot to officials who underestimate the power of grassroots accountability.