State changes afoot.

Byline: The Register-Guard

THE PENDING resignation of Paul Curcio, the director of the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development for the past year, is the latest in a string of changes in top state personnel. One of the changes occurred on former Gov. John Kitzhaber's watch, the other two after Gov. Ted Kulongoski took office in January.

There is nothing sinister in such changes. Each was for a different reason; all reflect the ordinary workings of government and the expected shake-ups when the governorship changes hands.

Besides the leadership change at LCDC, Chris Lyons, the head of the Oregon Lottery, resigned last fall in the wake of a state audit showing nearly $800,000 in questionable expenditures. Kitzhaber appointed Assistant Attorney General Brenda Rocklin as interim lottery director and, because of her effectiveness since taking over in December, Kulongoski made Rocklin's appointment permanent earlier this month.

Pamela Erickson, the director of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission for the past seven years, announced her resignation this month, partly because of burnout (running the OLCC is a tough job) and also because she wanted to take a job with the Oregon Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. Her OLCC post has yet to be filled. The timing of Erickson's resignation is awkward, because the OLCC's legislative budget hearing looms in three weeks.

Of the three changes, Curcio's departure is the most interesting. Hired from a management consulting firm in Los Angeles, where he spearheaded planning, economic and transportation projects, Curcio had been under fire from at least three of the seven members of the Land Conservation and Development Commission for personnel layoffs and his efforts to redefine the agency's way of doing business. The Oregonian reported that Curcio was criticized for urging too much "flexibility" - read that pro-development orientation - in LCDC's rules for development. Kulongoski seemed not to blink when Curcio's resignation was made public.

The commission, which normally hires or fires the LCDC director, is so divided on Curcio's evaluation that it might ask the Legislature to turn the appointment duties for choosing a new director over to the governor. That wouldn't be a bad idea. Agency heads - by their very nature and because of the inescapable link they have to the state's overall budgeting process - should have good working relationships with the governor.

Three changes. All different. Each understandable. And probably more to come.