DeLeo Departure Could Shift Power to SouthCoast [OPINION] The Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives may be stepping down. Winthrop Democrat Robert DeLeo is reported to be considering a job in the field of higher education. You know, the feeding trough for politicians who have had enough or have been asked by voters to exit stage left. NBC10 Boston reported yesterday that DeLeo would resign his House seat for a position with his alma mater Northeastern University. This ignited an immediate flurry of activity up on Beacon Hill by those loyal DeLeo minions that would be only too anxious to push him out of the way and lay claim to the Speaker's office.