A grassroots committee in Fort Meade, Florida, has submitted formal recall petitions to remove the city’s mayor and two commissioners. The move comes after the city leaders approved a massive artificial intelligence data center project, which has sparked intense community backlash.

Recall Effort Details

The Fort Meade Recall Committee, aided by the Watchdogs of Fort Meade, delivered the initial recall petitions to the city clerk. The group also funded the required signature verification process through the Supervisor of Elections office in Bartow.

The recall effort targets Mayor Jared Williams and Commissioners Petrina McCutchen and Matthew Taylor. Organizers allege malfeasance, mismanagement of funds, and conflicts of interest regarding the data center.

Watchdogs of Fort Meade member George McNerney denied any foreign connection to their movement, stating that they are a grassroots group of local residents who own property and pay bills in the city.

Next Steps

The Supervisor of Elections has 30 days to certify the gathered signatures. Following certification, the city leaders can file a rebuttal that will be attached to the petition before a second round of signature collection begins.

Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.