Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate approved a head elections commissioner for the 2006 elections at last night's meeting.

About a month after expected, David Gelpi, a two-year veteran of the elections commission, was appointed.

Gelpi will have to compensate for a reduced budget and a tighter schedule than previous commissioners have dealt with.

"It always seems like the appointment process takes longer than expected," Gelpi (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) said.

"I think we'll do our best to get off the ground," he added.

USG Senate President Andy Banducci said the Senate felt it was its responsibility to appoint the most qualified person, no matter how much time it took.

Gelpi said he intends to have his four deputies at the USG Internal Affairs meeting next Monday. He expects them to be approved at the next Senate meeting.

"He's the sort of person that should have been nominated from the get-go," Banducci said.

Though Senate rejected a previous candidate, citing problems with last year's commission, Gelpi was appointed without hesitation after serving on the same elections commission.

"I think Senate handled it pretty irresponsibly and put us in the crunch we have now," USG President Galen Foulke said.

The election campaigns officially begin after spring break, three and a half weeks after Gelpi's appointment to the position.

Also at last night's meeting, Town Sen. Nick Stathes was appointed as the USG Senate executive liaison, filling the vacancy that was left by West Halls Sen. Leigh Silkunas' resignation.

Senators also passed legislation in an attempt to reach the student body by hosting a "Meet Your USG" night on Feb. 27.