Ridges’ service
Tom Ridge announced this week that he will step down as chief of the Homeland Security Department. Ridge in his letter to President Bush noted that he has devoted the last 22 years to public service and that personal and family matters now merit a higher priority. Most of those 22 years, Ridge spent dedicated to Pennsylvania, and he was halfway through his second and final term as governor when the events of Sept. 11, 2001 propelled him to the national post. He was given a gargantuan job – design an umbrella that could shelter 22 incongruent federal agencies with more than 180,000 employees and a $36 billion budget. Ridge was charged with unifying agencies that pre Sept. 11 would not or could not share information vital to protecting the homeland from attacks.
Although much work remains to be done, Ridge appears to have succeeded in starting the process and has shaped a sturdy framework for his successor to build on.
Ridge’s name surfaced during President Bush’s first campaign as a possible running mate or Cabinet member. Ridge then made it clear that he was more interested in finishing out his term as governor and spending more time with his family. The terrorist attacks changed his plans.
Those who work on the public’s behalf face a constant stream of criticism. Too often, the public neglects to recognize the personal sacrifices that people such as Ridge and his family make. We wish them well and thank Ridge for the service he performed for this country.