DeLeo supporters meet in city; About 70 say they would back state rep. if DiMasi steps down.

Byline: Lee Hammel

The following correction was published Nov. 15, 2008 in the Telegram & Gazette.

WORCESTER - House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, D-Boston, and three associates are under investigation by the state Ethics Commission, and one of those associates, Richard Vitale, is being investigated by a state grand jury, the Boston Globe has reported.

Because of a reporter's error, the Telegram & Gazette reported in one edition yesterday that Mr. DiMasi is under grand jury investigation.

WORCESTER - About 70 members of the state House of Representatives who would support Robert A. DeLeo to become their next speaker gathered last night in a Worcester restaurant.

It was a strong, if unadvertised, show of strength while Mr. DeLeo, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, lines up support in the event that Rep. Salvatore F. DiMasi steps aside as leader of the 160-member House. Mr. DiMasi, who said he intends to run for another two-year term, has discouraged planning to succeed him, but both Mr. DeLeo, a Winthrop representative, and Majority Leader John H. Rogers of Norwood are lining up supporters.

Mr. DiMasi is under investigation by a state grand jury and the state Ethics Commission because of payments to close associates of his by a software contractor and an association of ticket sellers that have had business with the state. The speaker has refused to turn over some records to the Ethics Commission., and has denied giving any favored treatment to business friends.

In an interview at Maxwell Silverman's Restaurant, outside of the meeting, Mr. DeLeo said that "at least 70" of his supporters were there. Asked whether he believes he has the necessary 81 votes, or at least more support than Mr. Rogers, Mr. DeLeo replied only that he is "comfortable" with the support he has.

The meeting attracted legislators from across the state. Those from Central Massachusetts included Reps. Robert P. Spellane and Vincent A. Pedone, both of Worcester; James J. O'Day of West Boylston; Robert L. Rice Jr. of Gardner; John V. Fernandes of Milford; Anne M. Gobi of Spencer; Harold P. Naughton Jr. of Clinton; Geraldo Alicea of Charlton.

A supporter said he's confident of Mr. DeLeo's chances because he has been rounding up the support of newly elected state representatives, and at least one of them, Dennis Rosa of Leominster, attended last night's meeting.

The one representative representing Worcester who does not support Mr. DeLeo for speaker is John P. Fresolo.

Mr. DeLeo said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the difficult state of the economy, as well as to "calm the fears" of representatives because of "so much uncertainty swirling around the Statehouse." That includes talk that there could be yet a third candidate to succeed Mr. DiMasi, the Ways and Means chairman said.

Referring to Mr. DiMasi, Mr. DeLeo also emphasized "until he decides he wants to leave, then he's the speaker." Asked whether the speaker should step aside because of questions about payments to his associates, Mr. DeLeo said no, that the investigations should be given time to play out.

Mr. Pedone said he knows of no representative who wants to unseat Mr. DiMasi. He called the speaker "the architect of the nation's single best health-care system" as well as a champion of equal rights for his role in protecting gay marriage.

Asked whether jockeying for the next speaker is having an effect on the business of the House, Mr. DeLeo said that there has been no discrimination in the outlay of state funds, regardless of whether a district is represented by one of his supporters or Mr. Rogers'. But he said that he warned those at the meeting who may come to the Ways and Means Committee with requests for their districts that the economy will make that more difficult than it was this year.

John J. Monahan of the Telegram & Gazette staff contributed to this report.