Student Association President Kevin Miller appointed SA Senator Andrew Nelms the interim elections commissioner, which according to Brooke Robinson, SA director of public affairs, is not a conflict of interest.

The elections commissioner is an executive staff position within the SA. As a senator, Nelms already is a member of the legislative branch of the SA. But, Nelms said there is no conflict of interest by serving in two different branches of the same government.

“I’m the only person left [who] served on the election board last year,” Nelms said.

Nelms said that under SA policy, so long as he does not hold two paying positions in two different branches of the SA, he does not violate any rules.

The senate will vote to approve Miller’s appointment at the Feb. 9 meeting.

Miller made the appointment Monday, but it wasn’t officially announced until Tuesday. Nelms replaces Tony Brown, who served as elections commissioner in the 2002 SA executive elections.

According to the SA election policy, “no person shall become election commissioner who already hold[s] a paid position within the SA.”

SA senators are unpaid.

At Sunday’s senate meeting, Nelms filled in for former SA Senate President Pro Tempore James Barr.

Senate Speaker Frank Woodin announced at Sunday’s senate meeting that Barr resigned from the senate citing personal reasons.

Both Barr and Brown have jobs at NIU unrelated to the SA. Barr is the administration and outreach coordinator for the Convocation Center. Brown is a residence hall adviser at Neptune North.