Despite the ethics cloud hanging over House Speaker Sal DiMasi, most local lawmakers said they'll vote for him when he runs for re-election to his leadership post Wednesday.

Democratic state Reps. Mary Grant of Beverly, Ted Speliotis of Danvers, Joyce Spiliotis of Peabody and John Keenan of Salem said they plan to support DiMasi because no one is openly challenging the North End Democrat. Marblehead Rep. Lori Ehrlich couldn't be reached Friday.

David Torrisi, D-North Andover, has said publicly he will vote "present," one of the first lawmakers to come out against DiMasi.

North Shore lawmakers said DiMasi's probably a shoo-in for speaker if no more shoes drop.

"It's not pleasant and I wish this controversy would go away," Grant said. "It's more limbo than anything else right now."

Grant's uncertainty stems from the indictment last month of DiMasi's friend and accountant, Richard Vitale. He was allegedly paid by ticket brokers to lobby lawmakers to overturn the state's anti-scalping laws, while he kept his role a secret, according to various news reports.

The ticket broker bill passed the House then died in the Senate. There are also concerns about alleged payments made to DiMasi associates by a software company that landed large state contracts.

DiMasi has reportedly said he did nothing unethical in relation to those contracts, and the passage of the ticket broker bill in the House was in the best interest of his constituents.

"I feel at this time he should be re-elected," said Speliotis. "I am going to vote for him unless some unbelievable news comes down. You would be doing more damage politically if you ask someone to step down every time one of (their) friends causes trouble."

Grant said the allegations have been directed at DiMasi insiders, not at DiMasi himself.

"One has to be careful not to paint everyone with the same brush," Grant said.

"This is different than past speakers when they have been personally accused of ethics lapses," Speliotis said.

Peabody's Spiliotis said she planned to vote for DiMasi, who became speaker in 2004, because there was no one else running.

"I don't even know how much of it is true other than what I read in the paper," Spiliotis said. "I read in the paper Mr. Vitale said he was acting as a consultant and not as a lobbyist."

Spiliotis said she sat on the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure when it heard the ticket broker bill, and no one lobbied her for or against it.

Keenan said he backs DiMasi for what he brings to the table as far as his leadership skills.

"I'm going to support the speaker," Keenan said. "As the saying goes, politics ain't beanbags, it's a contact sport. He has taken some hits, but he has been a leader."

In Keenan's first term, DiMasi took the lead on health care reform, and the state's health insurance system has become a model for the Obama administration, the Salem rep said.

In Keenan's second term, DiMasi took the lead on energy policy, and now he has focused on transportation with the North Shore facing $7 tolls at the tunnels as debt mounts at the Massachusetts Turnpike.

"Nothing is directly related to the speaker," Keenan said. "There is no question there are distractions going on. ... My decision is based on the leadership he has provided."