Ethics Complaint Filed Against Councilmember Joy Kimbrough

An ethics complaint has been filed against District 1 Metro Councilmember Joy Kimbrough. The complaint alleges that Kimbrough asked for hundreds of thousands of dollars in community benefits to be paid upfront in exchange for her support of a rezoning proposal. 

Ryan Moses, CEO of Nashville liquor distributor Best Brands, filed the complaint on Aug. 18. The filing claims Kimbrough requested Moses increase the amount of a proposed $150,000 community benefit plan over five years to an upfront payment of $500,000 in order to gain her support for a rezoning ordinance to expand Best Brands’ headquarters and build a warehouse on property located on Ashland City Highway. 

According to the complaint, Kimbrough made the request via an April phone call to Moses and suggested she would control what nonprofits and charities would receive a portion of the $500,000. Moses said he questioned Kimbrough on the matter, to which she responded, “Well that’s where I am and what I want.”

The complaint includes attachments of email exchanges in which Moses asks Kimbrough for clarity on the request. Kimbrough replied, saying, “You’re confused about our conversation.” She then said she would no longer move forward with the rezoning proposal, citing resident concerns with agricultural property being rezoned to industrial and the Metro Planning Commission’s disapproval of the project. 

“There is simply no amount of money that your company can bring to the table that will change this determination,” Kimbrough wrote. 

The complaint also includes text messages sent by Moses to the councilmember asking her about the $500,000 proposal. The texts received no response. 

A petition with more than 150 signatures in support of the rezoning is also attached in the complaint, in which Moses outlines other alleged actions by Kimbrough. Moses claims Kimbrough manipulated the agenda of community meetings and unnecessarily prolonged the meetings. The complaint also references an alleged instance in which the councilmember asked Moses and his colleagues to show their phones to prove they were not recording their conversations. 

Official ethics code violations alleged in the filing include misuse of office for personal benefit, “quid pro quo” coercion and undermining public trust and transparency. 

When asked for comment, Kimbrough referred the Scene to a letter she sent by email to her constituents on Thursday refuting Moses' claims. "Moses is a liar," the email reads. "He has made a large investment in getting his way. He has given large amounts of money to 'leaders' in the community. He is frustrated because I am not for sale. He is frustrated because I will not take his money. He knows that I have never demanded money. Moses has sent me dozens of emails and texts that I do not even respond to. He’s worrisome."

The Metro Board of Ethical Conduct will decide whether the case moves forward.