Butler’s own U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, may consider a run for Speaker of the House of Representatives — but only if Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan declines to run for the job.

“Almost everything depends on which way Paul goes,” Kelly said this morning.

Ryan — the current chairman of the powerful Committee for Ways and Means who served as Mitt Romney’s vice presidential nominee in 2012 — has indicated that he is still considering the run, but also has said in the recent past that he does not want the job.

Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, who became speaker in 2011, announced in September that he would step down from the position and resign from Congress at the end of October.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California was the prime contender for the role, but dropped out last week shortly before a vote was to take place, having been unable to get the support of the members of the conservative Freedom Caucus.

As far as other candidates, Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida is a name being bandied around by conservatives. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah also recently threw his name into the mix.

Kelly said he has been approached by people in Congress and the private sector telling him he should consider a run for speaker.

Kelly first was elected in 2010 and serves on several committees — including the Committee for Ways and Means.

Kelly said if Ryan runs he would support him for speaker.

“He’s a really good, good guy,” Kelly said.

Kelly said Ryan has told him that the job of speaker is for an “empty nester,” noting that Ryan has young children still.

Kelly initially supported McCarthy, a fifth-term congressman who has served as House Majority Leader since 2014, for speaker.

The Speaker of the House officially is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and is second in the presidential line of succession.

Kelly said he is “absolutely” qualified for being speaker, because the main goal of the job is to bring people together, both Republicans and Democrats. He said he has good relationships on both sides of the aisle.

“I’ve always been a part of a team,” Kelly said.

Although McCarthy had trouble garnering the support of the Freedom Caucus, Kelly said he has a good relationship with some of its members — including Rep. Keith Rothfus of Pittsburgh’s North Hills, who Kelly said he sometimes rides with to Washington.

“I think I can get their support,” Kelly said.

Even if a bid for speakership does not happen, Kelly said he wants to do what he can to help get the Republican Party and Congress on track, and to help improve the U.S.

The House is on a break right now, and will go back in session on Tuesday.

Michael Coulter, a professor of humanities and political science at Grove City College who watches local and national politics, said he would be a bit surprised if Kelly ultimately attains the speakership, but added it is not out of the realm of possibility.

He said the challenge Republicans have is finding someone who can appease both ideological conservatives and pragmatic conservatives.

“I actually think Mike Kelly could bridge that gap,” Coulter said.

He said it is unusual for someone who only has been in Congress for less than five years to become speaker, but said it has happened in the past.

Coulter said people in the national media may be surprised by Kelly running or winning because he is not really on their radar. But he said Kelly has appeared on national TV to discuss issues numerous times.

He also said that the nature of the job of speaker is not only to be an ideological leader, but to deal with many different types of people in Washington.

“He may have those kind of people skills to do that,” Coulter said.