"Whatever he did was a personal affair. I can't see why it's a problem, as long as it doesn't affect his ministerial duties," East Corrimal resident Cory Arts said yesterday.

Bulli resident Sue Gillette said Mr Campbell's personal secrets wouldn't alter her vote in the future.

"I've known David since he was a doorman at the Corrimal Leagues Club ... As long as it doesn't affect his portfolio, I haven't got a problem with it," she said.

Tom Robertson, a resident for 75 years, said Mr Campbell's personal life should be disregarded.

"He's always been a hard worker, this isn't going to change that," he said.

If Mr Campbell had decided to pull the pin on politics altogether, it would have triggered a costly by-election, which would further hurt Labor's slim chances of another term in government.

Mr Campbell has held the seat for 11 years and followed Labor's Colin Markham, whose representation dated back to 1988, as the Member for Keira.

At the 2007 state election, Mr Campbell polled 58 per cent of the primary vote.

He holds the seat with a 22 per cent margin.

This formidable grip on the seat typifies Labor's hold on the region.

Keira is part of the Illawarra's industrial heartland built on coalmining, steelmaking and stevedoring.

The seat of Keira encompasses 227sqkm: from Bellambi Creek in the north to Lake Illawarra in the south, and from Wongawilli Creek to the coast.

The electorate has a population of about 65,000 people.