Festus voters ousted each incumbent City Council member up for reelection Tuesday night in the midst of a months long fight over whether an $6B data center should be built. The election results were not close, with no incumbent receiving more than 35% of the vote in their race.
In early March, ahead of a meeting on the data center, Mayor Sam Richards told KMOX he believes those opposed to a data center are a vocal minority.
"Either the majority of the citizens are not saying anything or they're fine with what we're doing."
Now having seen the results of Tuesday's election, has the Mayor's opinion changed?
"I'm still not convinced that the majority of the citizens of the City of Festus do not want a data center," Richards told KMOX. "I'm not convinced of that."
Richards does acknowledge the group against the data center played a hand in Tuesday's results.
"That vocal minority did a lot of work, knocking on doors, passing out stuff... it made a difference."
KMOX asked what could move him off this position that the majority of residents are in favor of the data center.
"Not that I can think of."
Before the election, the City of Festus entered into a contract with CRG Clayco to construct the data center and the Mayor has signed it. Could the new council members do anything to stop it?
"This is set in stone," says Mayor Richards, "and is going to move forward, period."
The Festus City Council meeting Wednesday evening, the first after the change election, was canceled. A post from Mayor Richards on Facebook says it is due to a lack of quorum.
Mayor Richards added he and the council members have done nothing wrong, denying accusations they have taken bribes or held backdoor meetings, calling the accusations "absolutely not true."
Mayor stands ground on data center belief and plans
Mayor stands ground on data center belief and plans
