Festus voters oust four city council members amid backlash over data center plans

FESTUS, Mo. — Residents in Festus did not feel like their voices were being heard regarding a massive data center that could be built near a local subdivision. But they ensured they were heard at the ballot box.

In a sweeping rebuke of city officials, voters unseated four incumbent city council members in the recent municipal election. The electoral shakeup comes after three of the ousted incumbents voted in favor of the controversial data center agreement, sparking intense community backlash and giving residents what they describe as newfound hope.

All four winning candidates ran on pro-transparency platforms directly opposing the data center's construction.

In Ward 1, Karl Weekley unseated Jim Collier. In Ward 2, Allen Joseph McCarthy won over incumbent Brian Wehner. Dan Moore unseated Bobby Venz in Ward 3, and in Ward 4, Rick Belleville took the seat from Jim Tinnin.


https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/festus-voters-oust-four-city-council-members-amid-backlash-over-data-center-plans/63-69614c88-d363-4540-9446-572f571a1e0a