SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):  April 19, 2005




                         CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                  001-11001              06-0619596
  (State or other jurisdiction       (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
        of incorporation)            File Number)         Identification No.)

                                3 High Ridge Park
                           Stamford, Connecticut  06905
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (203) 614-5600
               (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)



                           No Change Since Last Report
                           ---------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

     Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

[ ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


         
ITEM 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
          --------------------------------------------------------------------
          Appointment of Principal Officers
          ----------------------------------
 
          (b) Robert A. Stanger, a member of Citizens  Communications'  board of
          directors  since 1992,  has passed away. In addition to being a member
          of the  board,  Mr.  Stanger  was  the  chairman  of its  compensation
          committee and a member of its audit committee.

          There are now 10 director  nominees  for  election at  Citizens'  2005
          annual  meeting  of  stockholders  on May 26,  2005.  The proxy  cards
          released with the 2005 proxy statement remain effective and the shares
          represented by those proxy cards will be voted in accordance  with the
          stockholders' instructions with respect to these 10 nominees.






                                   SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                         CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
                                  (Registrant)


                         By: /s/ Jerry Elliott
                             --------------------------
                             Jerry Elliott
                             Executive Vice President and 
                             Chief Financial Officer

Date: April 21, 2005