Two new faces elected to Independence City Council in wake of data center backlash
Two new faces have been elected to the Independence City Council, ousting one incumbent.
Independence voters selected Cody Atkinson and Jackie Dorman in Tuesday’s election to join the seven-seat body, which includes six council members and the mayor. The two new council members will serve four-year terms on the dais.
Atkinson was voters’ top choice, securing 31% of the vote — that’s 6,992 ballots, according to unofficial results from the Jackson County Election Board. He told The Star that he plans to “put all of the focus we can put on making sure that Independence is a place where people love, where there’s opportunity, where dreams come true, where those who have the hardest time in life that are struggling that we can reach out and lift up.”
Dorman, meanwhile, earned 27% of the vote, or 6,092 votes, to win a council seat.
“I’m excited. I’m hopeful for the direction of Independence,” Dorman told The Star. “I think it’s time that we have a fresh start and we make Independence a place that people want to live, work and raise families in.”
Incumbent Councilmember Jared Fears came in third, while Lucy Young came in last place. 18.3% of registered Jackson County voters cast a vote in Tuesday’s election.
City Council will be Cody Atkinson’s first political office. Atkinson is the president of the Jackson County Animal Welfare Committee and the Missouri state director for the Humane Society of the United States. He also sits on the Independence Board of Adjustment.
As a council member, Atkinson will advocate to use some of the incoming revenue from a $150 billion artificial intelligence data center to support animal services in Independence.
His campaign goals included reinstating and expanding bus services, attracting additional low-income housing options through federal and state grants, and increasing resource distribution by the city to homeless residents and those struggling with addiction.
Dorman was endorsed by Stop The AI Data Center, a grassroots political action group formed by residents opposing the incoming $150 billion artificial intelligence data center from Dutch company Nebius. Throughout the campaign process, Dorman was one of the most vocal critics of the planned AI data center, and the $6 billion tax break the current council approved for its construction.
Dorman said that she will prioritize increasing direct engagement between city leaders and residents, as well as “welcoming and supporting” small businesses within Independence’s commercial districts and funding the city’s police and fire departments.
The lifelong Independence resident has a background in real estate and project management. City council will be her first elected political office.
Independence residents also elected Kevin King as the city’s new mayor Tuesday night. The city’s new council members and mayor will join a large class of incoming city leaders this year. Independence recently announced a new city manager and interim police chief, as well as new superintendents for both of the city’s school districts.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 9:14 PM.
