Idaho lands director to step down in January

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has announced Idaho Department of Lands Director Tom Schultz will step down in mid-January.

Otter said Wednesday that Schultz is leaving the state agency in January to become vice president of government affairs and community outreach for Idaho Forest Group – a family owned wood products company.

Schultz has been the land agency’s director since 2011. During his tenure, Schultz has worked to execute the direction of the five-member State Board Land of Commissioners to divest hundreds of cottage sites at Priest Lake and Payette Lake and several agency commercial properties.

The land board, which is made up of Otter, the attorney general, secretary of state, state controller and superintendent of public instruction, will discussion the agency director position at its January 16 meeting. The board provides direction to agency in managing endowment trusts lands in Idaho.