MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County Commissioners Committee held its first meeting since Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. was arrested for federal charges.

Ford Jr. is facing federal charges of bribery, kickbacks concerning federal funds, and six counts of attempted tax evasion. He is accused of using his public office to secure grant funds for three non-profits and then corruptly receiving financial payments from those three organizations. 

“Those charges involve grant programs and a budget process that we all play a part in. So, I want to make sure our actions are above board. And frankly, restore confidence. I think the public’s confidence in county government has been shaken,” said Commissioner Mick Wright.

Wright says one way to do that is by having transparency. 

“Even when I try to find my own actions as a commissioner, it’s too difficult,” Wright said. “It’s just not transparent enough for the public, and they want to know what’s happening with their government.”

Other commissioners are advocating for reform.

“Audit the funds that are provided by the county, such as if they match the descriptions of the project that were approved. It can be that simple, which really shouldn’t overburden the entity itself. It will be more of an issue for the independent auditors that they will contract with as a 501C3,” said Commissioner Michael Whaley.

“If we have an issue, state the issue – don’t try to save face about something that doesn’t need to be saved,” said Commissioner Henri Brooks.

Ford Jr. left the meeting while that discussion was ongoing.

Earlier in the meeting, Ford Jr. did weigh in on the salary of the Shelby County Sheriff for the 2026 – 2030 term of Office and other positions. He introduced a measure to increase the salary to $235,000, which would also increase the mayor’s salary.

“If this body does decide to pass the increase, the other increase needs to happen as well,” he said.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners will discuss reforming how commissioners distribute funds to non-profits in their district on March 19th. Commissioner Ford Jr. was placed on administrative leave without pay from his job with the Library Services. 

This comes after the Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris requested Monday to pause Ford Jr.’s grantmaking during his federal prosecution.

“I’m not in favor of these kinds of ‘slush funds,’ that one individual elected official can dole out at their discretion, because sometimes these things can become corrupted,” Harris said Tuesday, in an interview with WREG’s Alex Coleman.

Harris described his own working relationship with Ford Jr. as “prickly.”

“Obviously, he’s not a friend of mine, but I don’t think he has many friends,” Harris said.

Ford Jr. is due in federal court on Thursday.