Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run for Congress in Maryland’s fourth congressional district, he announced Tuesday morning.

Benoit, a second-term councilman and small business owner, said in a statement that he was considering a run in 2012 for the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards, a Prince George’s County Democrat.

“I’ve never been more concerned about America’s future and the future of my children and yours,” said Benoit, a Democrat, in the statement. “At this very moment, our do-nothing Congress is depriving working-class Americans of jobs and opportunities. The hallmark of this House of Representatives is self-interest and brinksmanship. If I run, I’ll do my best to stop that."

Benoit, who told a local blog on Sunday that he was considering a run, is the first person to formally announce a challenge to Edwards, whose district was reconfigured under Gov. Martin O’Malley’s recently approved redistricting plan. Large swaths of Anne Arundel County have been added to the district, which also includes parts of Prince George’s County.

Benoit, an attorney and former Army officer, was first elected to the county council in 2006. He is CEO of Federal Data Systems, an IT company.

He graduated from St. Mary’s College, rreceived a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and an LL.M from Georgetown University.

-Nicole Fuller