Some Centre County political leaders reacted with surprise to the resignation of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge as homeland security secretary yesterday, while others said they expected his decision.

"It doesn't surprise me," College Republicans Chairman Andy Banducci said.

Banducci said he expected Ridge's decision because rumors had been circulating about his impending resignation for some time.

"I'm sure the president will find someone to fill the shoes, but he's got big shoes to fill," he said. "It's a big loss for the administration."

In October 2001, Ridge became the nation's first White House homeland security adviser. Congress subsequently passed legislation establishing the Department of Homeland Security, merging 180,000 employees from 22 government agencies. Ridge became the department's first secretary in January 2003.

The color-coded alert system that has kept the country in a state of alert since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, fell under Ridge's jurisdiction.

As the first person assigned to the position of homeland security secretary, Ridge seemed happy with his post, College Democrats Megan Green said.

"It's a little bit of a surprise to me," she said. "He wasn't one that I was expecting to step down."

Although it was unlikely that Ridge's appointment affected Pennsylvania voters on Election Day, there was a sense of pride in having the former governor as part of the administration's cabinet, Green said.

"I think a lot of people were very proud that Bush would choose Tom Ridge to be the first person to have at that Cabinet post," she said.

Ridge said yesterday that he planned to focus on his family and take a step back from 22 years of public service.

As Ridge is added to the list of Cabinet resignations, one should not assume that the Bush administration is losing more members than former two-term presidents, Banducci said.

"This is certainly nothing out of the ordinary for incumbent presidents to have heavy turnover in the cabinet," he said.

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, said he was not surprised that Ridge decided against a second term because of the stress of his job.

"There are other very competent people. President Bush will make a good decision in replacing him," Benninghoff said.

Green said it is important that Bush appoints someone who does not take drastic measures in protecting the nation.

"I think that the Cabinet post of homeland security secretary is very important. It's something that we very much need," Green said.

As the first homeland security director, Ridge did a "remarkable job," said Kate Phillips, spokeswoman for Gov. Ed Rendell.

"Secretary Ridge stood up for the country during a very difficult time," she said.

--Collegian staff writer Leslie Holste and The Associated Press contributed to this report.