GW alumnus and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection when his term is up in 2012.

Conrad cited a desire to help tackle the issues facing the country, rather than spend his time caught up in what was expected to be a tough campaign against a Republican challenger.

“After months of consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012,” Conrad said in a news release. “There are serious challenges facing our state and nation, like a $14-trillion debt and America’s dependence on foreign oil. It is more important I spend my time and energy trying to solve these problems than to be distracted by a campaign for reelection.”

Conrad received his MBA from GW.