KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Changes are coming to the Independence City Council after voters took to the polls for Tuesday's recall election of John Perkins.
About 68% of voters were in favor of Perkins' recall, while nearly 32% voted to keep Perkins on the City Council.
The City of Independence provided a statement to KSHB 41 News regarding the recall of Perkins, which reads below.
Based on the unofficial results of today’s special election, voters in the First District have voted to recall Councilmember John Perkins.
The recall becomes effective once the election results are certified and provided to the City Clerk. At that time, the City will begin the process required by the City Charter to hold a special election to fill the vacancy.
The City respects the decision of voters and will remain focused on providing services, supporting residents and moving Independence forward.
Perkins' recall won't become official until the election board and the Independence city clerk certify the results, but that process won't dent a 36% margin.
Per the city charter, "A vacancy caused by recall shall be filled as other vacancies in such office are filled."
The next Independence City Council election isn't until April 2028, roughly 19 months away, which means there must be a special election to fill Perkins' seat.
Per the charter, "The council shall call such special election promptly upon the occurrence of such vacancy."
There is no timeline for setting a special election delineated in the charter, but the city council has sole authority to call it.
A primary and a general election likely have to be scheduled. If two or fewer candidates file, the primary would be canceled.
The effort to recall Perkins began after the city council voted to approve a massive data-center project last March, with Perkins among the supporters.
Perkins voted to approve a 400-acre hyperscale AI data factory that a Dutch technology company, Nebius, will lease from the city.
Perkins had been elected to the Independence City Council five times since 1996 and had represented Independence's 1st District since 2016.
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