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New USAC General Representative Art Ambrosio, right, is sworn in during the council’s meeti

An open spot for general representative unexpectedly went to a candidate not approved by the undergraduate government’s appointing committee on Tuesday night, resulting in a split vote between councilmembers.

In a 4-1-3 vote, Art Ambrosio, a fourth-year neuroscience student, was appointed to fill the seat of the third general representative for the Undergraduate Students Association Council over Kristin Mayeda, who was recommended by the Appointments Review Committee. Typically, candidates recommended by the ARC are approved by council.

Ambrosio, who is the assistant commissioner for the Community Service Commission, was among the candidates because of his experiences working with council.

The seat for general representative was left vacant by former representative Nelson Saldaña, who resigned late January due to personal reasons. Saldaña left his post with several unfinished goals after eight months in office.

Two candidates were forwarded by President Anica McKesey to the ARC where each candidate was interviewed earlier in the day Tuesday. The committee chose to recommend Mayeda, co-founder of the UCLA woman’s group Queer x Girl, for the position.

“She brings a different perspective to council as far as advocating for queer and women’s issues,” said Allende Palma/Saracho, internal vice president and ARC chairman.

Mayeda, who has worked with Queer Alliance and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said she applied for the position because she saw it as a good opportunity to become more involved with student organizations and to make changes on campus.

But ultimately it was Ambrosio’s experience working with USAC that won his approval from council.

Ambrosio said that by sitting at the council table, he will be speaking not only on behalf of community service groups he is directly affiliated with but for the entire UCLA community.

Several councilmembers raised concerns about Ambrosio’s commitment to his duties as general representative because Ambrosio said he would not resign as assistant commissioner for the CSC and would work with both positions simultaneously.

“I made a commitment to finish,” Ambrosio said, referring to his position on CSC.

McKesey said she forwarded Ambrosio as a candidate to ARC because of his experience working with CSC and his familiarity with council, but had reservations about the constraints with running two offices.

Ambrosio said he understands the concerns raised regarding the time constraints imposed by carrying out two positions, but said he would be able to handle both positions with no detrimental effect on either office.

Ambrosio said that as an assistant commissioner, he learned organizational skills and how to deal with large amounts of money.

“I know how to deal with a huge staff and how to delegate duties,” Ambrosio said. “I know when to take credit for something as well as taking the blame when something goes wrong.”

Ambrosio said he has knowledge of USAC’s four main goals, which include implementing a diversity requirement and repealing the minimum progress requirement. He said he will work to to help council fulfill these goals as the new representative.

Along with working with the commission, Ambrosio said he has also attended various council functions, such as retreats, and he has attended several weekly general meetings.

“I know how (council) works and how the general representative office works,” Ambrosio said.

With only a couple of months left until the end of this year’s term, Ambrosio said he realizes the little time he has to fulfill his goals.

One of Ambrosio’s plans is to implement a credit system where students working on community service projects can receive school credit if they are taking a course whose curriculum overlaps with the community service project.

“This is a way of getting students who usually do not do community service projects some incentive,” Ambrosio said.

Three councilmembers – Campus Events Commissioner Jason Gaulton, External Vice President Matt Kaczmarek and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kelly Wynn – were not present for the vote.