nwasianweekly.com
March 1, 2008

Dr. Chang Mook Sohn

Sohn runs for state treasurer

By Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly

Dr. Chang Mook Sohn, the state’s chief economist, will run for the position of state treasurer. The position is being vacated by retiring Teasurer Mike Murphy.

Sohn has filed with the Public Disclosure Commission as a Democrat and said he will formally announce his candidacy in a media conference in Olympia on March 3.

Two other candidates are also in the running for the position, Republican Martin Allan, of Tumwater, and Democrat James McIntire, of Seattle.

Sohn has been executive director of the state Economic Forecast Council since 1984 — the first and only person to hold the position. On Feb. 16, he issued his 94th and final revenue prediction.

As Washington’s chief economist, Sohn prepared and presented quarterly forecasts of economic activities in the state. He is widely considered to have a reputation of integrity and the ability to be completely nonpartisan in his assessments. He has also received the nickname “Dr. Doom” from some lawmakers who consider him too conservative in his economic outlook.

Born in South Korea, Sohn received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Yonsei University in Seoul in 1968. He moved to New York in 1969 and earned master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from the State University of New York in the 1970s. After a few years of working as a tax researcher for New York and Illinois, he moved to Oregon, where he developed a forecasting process similar to the one he now heads.

Sohn received the Governor’s Distinguished Management Leadership Award in 1986. Six years ago, he helped start the first local Korean American-owned bank, Pacific International.

This is his first attempt at elected office.

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