He's a Republican, he's in the insurance business, and he's from central Pennsylvania.

In short, he's the kind of guy whose vote last November helped to put Congressman Tom Ridge in the governor's mansion.

But if Warren Stumpf could pull back that vote, he said he would gladly do it.

Stumpf and as many as 300 other protesters jammed the Capitol Rotunda yesterday to denounce Ridge and the legislature for last week's enactment of a pay increase for state officials.

"I don't go to these things," Stumpf said of the rally. "But this really upset me. I'll vote for anybody but Ridge next time. He lied. This is absolutely outrageous."

The protesters concentrated their wrath on two key points:

* That the legislature drew up the pay-raise bill to circumvent the state constitution's prohibition against mid-term increases and allow themselves to accept the extra $8,800 this year as "unvouchered expenses."

* That Ridge signed the pay-raise bill after pledging during his campaign that he would not sign a pay-raise bill.

"People are not going to forget this," said another protester, E.W. Willhide, from suburban Harrisburg.

The rally was organized by conservative Harrisburg radio talk-show host Bob Durgin and Charlie Gerow, leader of a group called Citizens Against Government Waste.

The audience was predominantly from central Pennsylvania, but it included a smattering of people from the eastern and western parts of the state.

Former gubernatorial candidate Peg Luksik of Johnstown urged protesters to remember the pay-raise vote next year, when every member of the House and half the Senate must stand for reelection.

She said citizens, as they are this year, were similarly upset in 1983 and 1987 when lawmakers raised their pay. But, come election time, voters seemed to forget about the issue, and incumbents were easily reelected.

"They know they're not accountable," she said. "They're counting on you crying wolf."

Many of the protesters held large placards to express their feelings.

There was a picture of Porky Pig, clutching a wad of dollars, saying, ''They'll take it all, folks." Other signs said: "Tom, a Well-dressed Turkey," "Thieves and Scoundrels" and "Eat Waffles, Don't Elect Them."

Tim Reeves, Ridge's press secretary, said a half-dozen protesters came to the Governor's Reception Room to register their displeasure with the raise and Ridge's actions.

He said Ridge, who was in Washington lobbying on behalf of the state against a proposed federal Medicaid formula, was aware of voter anger about the pay raise and the possible political repercussions.

"He has no illusions over how the pay raise is received," Reeves said.

Members of the judicial branch will begin receiving salary increases Nov. 1, as will the legislature in the form of its "unvouchered expenses." Raises for the governor and others will not occur until 1999.