Speaker Sal Dimasi confirmed what the Lowell Sun broke earlier this week, telling the Boston Globe that he is resigning as Speaker and Representative effective Tuesday. He will give a farewell speech Tuesday, and Democrats will caucus to choose a “Democratic nominee” for Speaker sometime Monday, with a vote for Speaker likely held in the full House on Wednesday. Dimasi blamed his political troubles on “special interests” whose agenda he has blocked, notably the casino industry. From the Globe:

”My head is held high and I am proud of my record. That is how I am leaving,” DiMasi said. He blamed much of the ethical controversies on ”powerful special interests” particularly the gambling industry which he had blocked in its efforts to legalize casinos.

”They are going to be pretty happy by the fact I won’t be here,” he said of the casino industry and its stable of high paid lobbyists.

Dimasi’s exit will unleash a battle for Speaker between Rep. Bobby Deleo of Winthrop and Majority Leader John Rogers of Norwood. It appears that Deleo has the votes, but this race is very close. That has led to speculation that the Republican caucus of sixteen is being approached to possibly tip the balance away from the victor in the Democratic caucus. If the Republicans voted as a block of sixteen in favor of the losing candidate in the Democratic caucus (instead of voting for Minority Leader Brad Jones)they could well tip the balance in the Speakers fight. But there is a complication to that scenario as well. The Republican caucus is essentially split in two, with seven votes of the sixteen having voted for Rep. Rep. Lewis Evangelidis instead of Brad Jones (who had nine) for Minority Leader. The Evangelidis Seven may be approached as a separate entity, with the potential for delivering seven votes for Speaker to one of the Democrats. In counting votes from the outside looking in the potential exists for the Republicans to participate as full players in the Speakers fight, but with the two separate Republican groups voting for different Democrats. Under that scenario whover gets the Brad Jones nine picks up a net two votes. Is your head spinning yet?

Organized labor has weighed in in favor of Rodgers, with many locals across the board making calls and applying pressure. Whatever the outcome I believe that the vote count is hardened, with softer votes now being pursued to change teams. Locally, Reps Campbell, L’Italien, Torrisi, Finegold, and Lantigua are with Deleo. The Lowell delegation is solidly with Rodgers. A Speakers fight of this quality is a rarity. The Tom Finneran-Ritchie Voke battle was a real donneybrook, with Finneran losing in the Democratic caucus but winning on the floor with Republican support. This one will likely be a classic, with enough intrigue, double dealing, and bad blood to keep a political junkie satiated for at least two weeks. If you are a Rep. on the losing side then get ready for some much smaller office digs.