Jon Talton is a fourth-generation Arizonan who writes the commentary blog Rogue Columnist (www.roguecolumnist.com), which focuses on Phoenix and Arizona issues. He is also Economics Columnist of the Seattle Times and author of 11 novels. For 30 years Jon has covered business and finance, specializing in banking, urban economies, energy, real estate and economics and public policy. Jon has been a columnist for the Arizona Republic, Charlotte Observer and Rocky Mountain News, and his columns have appeared in newspapers throughout North America on the New York Times News Service and other news services.