Washington State Chief Economist Arun Raha has resigned effective January 31 to take a new job in the private sector.
Raha, who took over as the head economist in October 2008, told The Seattle Times that he’s leaving to become the director of corporate economics for Eaton, a Cleveland, Ohio corporation he’s worked for previously.
In his resignation letter, Raha called his time as head state economist “a most wonderful experience as I have travelled around the state meeting with local officials, businesses, citizens and taxpayers. Of course, I was out raising their spirits and encouraging them to hang in there because the Great Recession too shall pass. But I got much more from them than I expected – the warmth and the affection with which they received me was truly touching. With fine people like that, I continue to be bullish about the state economy’s future.”
Steve Lerch, who served as the interim chief economist before Raha’s appointment, will fill in while the state searches for a permanent replacement.