A key Senate panel this evening unanimously endorsed Gary Sasse to serve as Governor Carcieri's director of the Department of Administration.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the recommendation next week.

Sasse, a longtime head of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, most recently served as the director of the Department of Revenue.

The Department of Administration has a $561-million annual budget and more than 900 employees. It runs all of the state's budgeting, purchasing, human resources, legal services and planning.