Refers to a person elected or appointed to represent a group, such as in a student council, cooperative, or association.
彼はクラスの総代に選ばれた。
He was elected class representative.
総代として会議に出席する。
Attend the meeting as a representative.
Compound of 総 (そう, 'all, general') and 代 (だい, 'substitute, representative'). The combination conveys the idea of a person who acts on behalf of a whole group.