Tom Tobin has worked at the St. Petersburg Times since 1988, serving much of that time as a government reporter. He also writes for another Times enterprise, PolitiFact.com.

As the Times' state reporter, he covered the 2000 presidential recount in Florida and subsequent efforts to retool the state's election machinery. Since 2003, he has been an education reporter, focusing on school board issues, school finance, the achievement gap and desegregation.

Born in St. Louis, Mo., he lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Kathleen, and their three children.

Phone: (727) 893-8923

E-mail: tobin@tampabay.com