Undergraduate Council Vice President Brandon C. Gregoire '95 announced late last night that he will withdraw from the council's presidential race.

Gregoire, previously considered one of the frontrunners for the post, cited the strain of four terms as an executive in his decision not to run.

"I'm just very stressed out as a result of all my council experiences, and I'm ready to assume my seat as a normal council member," Gregoire said.

Gregoire's withdrawal from the race came just a day after he vehemently attacked an opponent at a council-sponsored presidential debate. Gregoire alleged that candidate Randall A. Fine '96 had conspired with outgoing President David L. Hanselman '94-'95 to selectively remove political enemies from the council when the two were executives two years ago.

"I feel I had some points to make," Gregoire said last night. "I had to reveal certain things that had come to my attention over the matter."

Gregoire was quick to point out, however, that he did not consider the issue resolved.

"This matter will be taken care of," Gregoire said. "We have not heard the last of it."

"I hope that those involved in the matter will come out with the truth," he added.

Gregoire was visibly disgusted while Fine defended his record at last night's council debate.

At one point, he muttered to himself, "Yeah, right," as Fine denied all wrongdoing as council secretary in the spring of 1993.

Gregoire emphasized in an interview last night that his withdrawal from the executive race does not signal the end of his involvement in council activities.

In fact, he said that he plans to introduce the same initiatives he proposed during his presidential campaign.

Gregoire entered the council race almost immediately after Hanselman announced that he would not seek re-election.

He came under attack from Hanselman, who stated that second semester seniors such as Gregoire should not run the council. Gregoire has vigorously defended his right to run and his ability to do an outstanding job.

Rumors that Gregoire was stepping down began circulating late yesterday afternoon, but Gregoire denied their veracity at a presidential question-and-answer session in the Freshman Union last night.