With the impending resignation of U.S. Rep. Bud Shuster, R-Pa., local and state political figures expressed varying opinions on the upcoming special election that will determine who will fill the veteran legislator's seat.

Shuster originally announced he would retire today, however Steve Aaron, spokesman for Gov. Tom Ridge, said yesterday Shuster postponed his retirement until Saturday.

Shuster's office did not return phone calls seeking comment on the postponement.

Starting from the first day of Shuster's resignation, Gov. Tom Ridge has 10 days to set a date for the election.

The election will determine who will serve as representative for 11 counties — including Western Centre County.

Gov. Ridge has been weighing two key points in determining this decision, Ridge spokesman Steve Aaron said.

An election before the May 15 primary would cost extra taxpayer dollars.

However, holding the upcoming election with the primaries would cause Central Pennsylvania to be without a congressional representative for several months, Aaron said.

Some of those vying for Shuster's seat are concerned about holding a special election in addition to the primaries.

If the election is set before May 15 "it would be an atrocity and injustice" to tax payers, said Centre County Commissioner H. Scott Conklin.

Conklin's candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the seat will be announced Feb. 10.

For Centre County alone, the cost of an election is $10,000, he said.

In addition to the large cost of an election, finding enough people to work for the special election could also be a big problem.

There would be increased difficulty for people to get on election boards, said Blair County Commissioner John Eichelberger, who announced his bid for Republican nomination last Thursday.

Alanna Hartzok, coordinator of the Pennsylvania Fair Tax Coalition, announced her interest in Shuster's seat Monday.

Green Party delegate Anne Goeke said the Green Party fully supports and endorses Hartzok.

The Democratic Party has shown strong support for Conklin.

He announced his interest in the party's nomination shortly after Shuster announced his resignation Jan. 4.

Conklin said he believes that despite Centre County's Republican majority, voters concentrate on the individual rather than the party line.

"If I did not believe I could win this, I would not be running," he said.