Local lawmakers say they don't regret backing outgoing Speaker Sal DiMasi, who is resigning amid ethics complaints, and denied his abrupt departure tarnishes the House of Representatives.

"I don't think it's a black eye," said Rep. John Keenan, D-Salem, about the perception of DiMasi's quick departure after being re-elected. "I don't think it's a black mark on us. ... We will remake ourselves.

"I think it came a little quicker than most of us expected," he said of DiMasi bowing out.

Keenan said he backed DiMasi because of his work on health care reform, his support of gay marriage and his blocking of casinos.

"At the particular time, he was the strongest candidate," Keenan said. The only other person to nominate himself to the post of speaker, William Greene Jr., D-Billerica, got one vote, Keenan said.

Others agreed the rapid shift in support to House Ways and Means Chairman Robert DeLeo, who represents Revere and Winthrop, wasn't indicative of trouble on Beacon Hill.

"I don't feel like it's a climate of corruption," said state Rep. Mary Grant, D-Beverly. "Lots of times there's a juicy story it's, 'Let's everyone run with it.'" She said most lawmakers "are just like me ... trying to get it right."

DiMasi on Sunday announced he would resign today, bringing an end to a 30-year career in the House. He had been dogged by allegations his accountant and close friend, Richard Vitale, used their relationship to push a ticket-scalping bill and that Vitale paid off his in-laws' legal bills. DiMasi said in a statement he was resigning with his head held high and for personal reasons, not because of ethics questions.

North Shore lawmakers said the ascension of DeLeo over Majority Leader John Rogers, D-Norwood, appears to be a certainty tomorrow, with 86 votes lined up.

In the run-up to DiMasi's victory, which was also called a sure thing, Grant said she operated with what information she had.

"You can only ever make the best judgments in life with the information you have on hand," Grant said.

For months, there was nothing new until a fresh allegation surfaced last week.

"I think it just happened so quickly, everyone was taken by surprise, and nothing surprises me anymore," said Joyce Spiliotis, D-Peabody, who backed DiMasi and now backs DeLeo.

Spiliotis said she really had no choice in voting for DiMasi because there was no one else in serious contention. Spiliotis said she's focused on the budget in this tough economy.

Lawmakers gave DiMasi credit for stepping aside early in the legislative session rather than in the middle of the budget season.

"I think it was better it was early, and the speaker didn't come out with any committee assignments," Spiliotis said.

Rep. Ted Speliotis, D-Danvers, said at the time he voted for DiMasi, he could support him, but not now.

"You do have to let the process follow through," Speliotis said.

He doubted ethics questions about the ticket-broker bill, which passed through DeLeo's committee, would hamper DeLeo, and that it was "Rogers throwing out that."

"He was chairman of Ways and Means," Keenan said of DeLeo. "Virtually all bills go through" this committee.

The problem, Speliotis said, was the speaker's post has become too powerful, and it may be time for the next speaker to be more open.

Yet Speliotis rejects the notion that speakers are inherently corrupt.

"The people that say, 'It's inherent you get in trouble as speaker,' is a cop-out.'"

Republicans, meanwhile, have decided to sit out this leadership fight.

"I can assure you there is a lot of scurrying about between the Robert DeLeo camp and the John Rogers camp," said state Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich. Hill plans to vote for House Minority Leader Brad Jones, R-North Reading, as speaker. But with Republicans in the minority — just 16 out of 160 members — it's doubtful Jones has a chance.

"I agree with him stepping down," Hill said of DiMasi's demise. "With all the ethics questions, it put a cloud over the Statehouse."

"I didn't vote for DiMasi. ... Democratic members are going to have to say they voted for DiMasi," said Jones, whose district includes a portion of Middleton.

The episode is a "byproduct of the one party imbalance in the Legislature," Jones said.