Washington ? A former star quarterback is leaving a top post in the House leadership, and a former Olympic miler wants the job.

Kansas Rep. Jim Ryun is seeking the No. 4 job of House Republican Conference chairman.

Ryun, 55, said he wanted to build on party successes during Watts’ tenure. Sharing ideology as well as backgrounds in sports, both men have championed causes that are important to party conservatives.

“I ran on a position of family values, lower taxes and less government intrusion,” Ryun said. “I want to continue to build on some of those same ideals, things that are still not completed, on eliminating permanently the marriage tax penalty, the death tax. Those are things that still remain to be done.”