Speaker DeLeo To Run For Re-Election

House Speaker Robert DeLeo is planning to run for another term as head of the Massachusetts House.

A spokesman for the Winthrop Democrat confirmed that DeLeo will seek reelection to the House next year and will also seek another term as speaker.

DeLeo recently had surgery to help deal with a weight problem.

The 65-year-old told The Boston Globe that after consulting with doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital he had nearly 80 percent of his stomach removed in an operation known as gastric sleeve surgery on Aug. 3.

In January, DeLeo pushed lawmakers to eliminate term limits for Massachusetts House speakers, clearing the way for him to seek another, two-year term in the powerful post.

Under the old rule, DeLeo, elected speaker in 2009, would have had to step down from that leadership post in 2017.  (Associated Press)