Politics
Yukon Voters Recall Mayor Brian Pillmore Over Data Center Transparency, Elect Joe Phillips to Ward 3 Seat
Yukon Mayor Brian Pillmore was ousted in a recall election Tuesday, with Joe Phillips winning the Ward 3 council seat by a wide margin. The vote followed months of resident frustration over a proposed data center and a lack of transparency at city hall.
YUKON, Okla. â Mayor Brian Pillmore was removed from office in a recall election Tuesday, and voters chose Joe Phillips to fill his Ward 3 city council seat, according to unofficial results.
Phillips received more than 1,600 votes to Pillmore's 369, a margin Phillips described as 82% to 18%.
"The people wanted him gone and to have that many people get out and vote is just a tremendous feeling of joy," said Yukon resident Allan Lewis.
The recall followed months of mounting frustration among residents over transparency and a proposed data center. Lewis said the data center issue was the biggest concern, particularly the city's decision to change zoning so a data center could purchase land.
"That was even done without letting the people know that were on that board to make the correct decision," Lewis said.
Those frustrations led a group of residents to circulate a recall petition to remove Pillmore from his Ward 3 seat. After collecting enough signatures to force an election, the group saw voters remove him from office.
"It was tough to get where we're at, and it took a lot of effort from a lot of people," said resident Joe Horn, who helped lead the recall efforts.
"It was just a cumulative number of events that occurred that the citizens wanted this guy removed and I think the vote shows what a mandate this was," Horn said. "People are so pleased that he's gone."
Phillips, who will now fill the Ward 3 seat, said he was confident in his victory.
"I'm not gonna sit here and tell you I didn't think I was gonna win because I really thought I was gonna win. I wouldn't have ran if I didn't think I was gonna win," Phillips said. "But yeah, it was 82% to 18%. So it was a lopsided number. You know, again, a lot of that is not because of Joe Phillips but it's because of what's been going on in Yukon, Oklahoma."
Phillips said his top priority is stopping the data center.
"My priorities, number one, we're gonna do everything we can to stop the data center... Whenever I ran for the Yukon City Council I ran on transparency, truth, honesty. I'm gonna do what the people want," he said.
With Pillmore out, the city council will now choose a new mayor from among its members. An election will be held in February for voters to decide on a new mayor, with filing set for December.
The recall underscores deep concerns in Yukon about how major development decisions are made and whether residents have a meaningful voice in the process. Phillips' victory signals that voters want greater transparency and accountability from their local government.