Bill Flores, a three-term congressman from central Texas, on Monday announced he hopes to replace outgoing House Speaker John Boehner, which would make the 61-year-old second in the U.S. presidential line of succession.

The former businessman revealed his plans in a message sent to some of his fellow House Republicans, the Texas Tribune reported. Flores cautioned, however, he would drop his candidacy if 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan decided to seek the speakership

In an interview he gave last week, the member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce had already hinted at his aspirations, KBTX, the College Station, Texas, XXX affiliate noted.

"I've had tough jobs before," Flores said. "If I were asked to do it, and if my constituents and family felt like I should, if my prayers were answered and said that I should, I think I'm up to it."

Flores currently serves as the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of 172 conservative GOP members in the House, where the Texan has taken a more cooperative approach with Republican leaders than some of his predecessors.

His competitors in the race to replace Boehner so far include Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Daniel Webster of Florida. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, meanwhile, decided to withdraw his bid last week, and Ryan -- a favorite among many hardliners in the GOP -- has twice declined to seek the speakership.

Boehner had announced on Sept. 25 he would step down from the post after he had come under increasing criticism for his relatively moderate stance. The 65-year-old Ohio representative will resign at the end of this month, and he has set an Oct. 29 deadline for the House to vote on his successor.

The schedule would "ensure House Republicans have a strong, unified team to lead our conference and focus on the American people's priorities," he noted in a statement.