DiMasi's Would-Be Successors Show Contrast In Style

Now that House Speaker Sal DiMasi has announced his resignation, the fight to be his successor between John Rogers and Robert DeLeo is heating up.

The way Rogers and DeLeo handled a potential succession gives insight into the way the two longtime state representatives would be if they won their chamber's top job themselves.

Rogers, a brash upstart from Norwood, e-mailed a statement last Friday saying "when" DiMasi resigned, he would be a candidate to succeed him.

DeLeo sent out his own statement hours later, suggesting such talk was premature.

The gesture may show the Winthrop Democrat, who serves as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has already secured the 81 votes necessary to succeed DiMasi.

An election is scheduled for Wednesday.