Conyers quits Detroit council post

DETROIT, June 29 (UPI) -- Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers, convicted of accepting a bribe, has resigned her seat, effective July 6.

A member of Conyers' staff delivered the two-sentence resignation letter to Deputy City Clerk Vivian Hudson, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"Effective Monday, July 6, 2009, I hereby resign from my position as council president pro tempore of the Detroit City Council," her letter read. "My staff will be available until Dec. 31, 2009, to assist in the office of my colleagues."

Conyers' resignation followed her guilty plea Friday in U.S. District Court to a felony charge of accepting a bribe in exchange for an affirmative vote on the $1.2 billion Synagro Technologies sewage sludge recycling contract, as well as other unspecified actions, while a member of a city pension board.

On Monday, six of the council's eight other members had said they were ready to consider initiating forfeiture proceedings to oust Conyers if she did not quit. State Attorney General Mike Cox had said he would take action Tuesday to oust her, as well.

Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. said in a statement Conyers' resignation marks "the end of another sad chapter in Detroit's history

"I am glad she did the right thing and resigned from the Detroit City Council," he said. "Now we, as a council and a city, can move on and forward in focusing on the vital issues our city faces -- and we will."