Jon East is an editorial writer who covers education, state and local government issues for the Times. He grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C., and received a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He worked at the Ocala Star-Banner and the St. Petersburg Evening Independent covering city and county government before joining the Times editorial board in 1986. He lives in Clearwater with his wife, Janice, and has two daughters, Megan and Erika, who attend UNC-CH and the University of Florida.

Phone: (727) 893-8667

E-mail: jeastsptimes.com