WASHINGTON (AP) — Anita Bonds has been selected as an interim member of the D.C. Council.

Bonds was selected Monday night by District of Columbia Democratic Party officials, who by law replace party members on the council. Bond is the chairman of the D.C. Democratic State Committee.

Bonds fills the vacancy created when at-large Councilmember Phil Mendelson became council chairman in June. Mendelson won a special election in November to continue as chairman. Former chairman Kwame Brown pleaded guilty to bank fraud and resigned.

Bonds will serve until a special election April 23, and she has said she intends to run in that race.

Bonds, 67, was a longtime aide to former mayor and current Councilmember Marion Barry. She works for Fort Myer Construction Corp., a major contractor in the district.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)