MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis City Council member Michalyn Easter-Thomas has resigned from her position at the Memphis River Parks Partnership.
The decision was announced during her ethics complaint hearing which alleged that she had a conflict of interest in her position on the council.
"Today really marks the example of sacrifice through service ... [Councilwoman Easter-Thomas] has decided it was more important to put an end to this ethical claim that would've continued to be a distraction from doing the important and urgent work our city so desperately needs," said Andre Wharton, Easter-Thomas' lawyer said after the hearing.
Wharton said that because of the unintended distraction it has caused, she wanted to put an end to the debate and claim.
The board accepted the recommendation to resign and leaves up to the city council to censure her.
Wharton said he isn't sure what the censure could look like and wouldn't theorize but it was at the perogative of the city council.
Representative for the ethics board Rodrick Holmes said that the violation was for accepting the job and ongoing conflict not being disclosed.
Wharton said he believes the "technical" violation was the failure to disclose during a voting period on one occasion, but did on other occasions.
"We need to look at our laws and our ordinances to make sure they are realistic because these people are serving out of sacrifice to themselves for their families and I think we need to figure out a solution in situations this and I think disclosure was one of those," Wharton said. "The question we need to look at when we look at our city charter is whether it's too broad."
Easter-Thomas was named MRPP's first director of education initiatives and strategic partnerships in April 2023.