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Longtime government attorney Jerry Lidz has been appointed the new director of Oregon’s land-use wing, the Department of Land Conservation and Development.

Since Gov. John Kitzhaber appointed Richard Whitman, the former director of DLCD, to his staff last month, the Land Conservation and Development Commission, which is in charge of appointing the new director, had been on the search. Agreeing with the recommendation Kitzhaber, LCDC today voted to approve the appointment of Lidz.

While the job is new to Lidz, working for the state isn’t. He has held various positions with the Oregon Department of Justice, including attorney-in-charge of the Natural Resources Section and solicitor general for the Appellate Division. Before that he had held various city attorney positions around the state, with the city of Eugene being his most recent stop.

Lidz appointment is effective immediately and runs through June 2011. Over that time Whitman will serve as Kitzhaber’s new natural resources adviser, and be a key point person to the governor throughout the 2011 legislative session.

“DLCD is at the hub of so many efforts to maintain and enhance Oregon’s best qualities,” Litz said in a statement. “I’m excited by the opportunity to work with dedicated people on so many important and innovative projects.”

It has yet to be determined if Whitman will regain his post in June or keep his new position as an advisor to the governor.