MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Shelby County Commission has a new member. 

The commission has picked a replacement to finish out Edmund Ford Jr.’s seat in District Nine. 

Ford had to resign his seat last month after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion charges. 

RELATED: Edmund Ford Jr. resigns as Shelby County commissioner following guilty pleas

After a couple rounds of voting it came down to Matthew Szalaj and Rashida Jones. The third round ended with Szalaj as the new interim county commissioner. 

Ten people had applied for Edmund Ford Jr.’s open seat. Nine were here last week for interviews. 

Commissioners said they did not want to appoint someone who planned to run for the seat this year. In the end they picked Szalaj, who will serve in this seat until a new commissioner is elected in August. He will represent District Nine, which includes southwest Memphis, Westwood, and Whitehaven.