DeLeo gets a ferry, but he won't ride it

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo helped christen a big victory for his Winthrop district this week – ferry service to Boston. But don’t expect to see the landlubber striding across a foggy deck greeting voters on his way to work at the State House.

"I get sea sick," the Democrat confided last week, a tad sheepishly. "I’ll do trains any day. Not too good on boats."

DeLeo was instrumental in getting much of the $6 million for the three-month pilot project, and was fairly proud of the hometown bacon when he attended a press conference at the Winthrop Town Pier Tuesday. But there was no way he was joining US Representative Edward J. Markey and other dignitaries on a ceremonial cruise to Rowe’s Wharf.

"They said, ‘After the formal ceremonies, we’d like you to take the boat ride,’" DeLeo recalled. "I said ‘No, that’s OK.’"

"Everyone finds it so hard to believe that I represent a seaside community, with three yacht clubs."

Does this mean riverboat casinos are out of the question?