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Leo Castañeda
Investigative Researcher & Economic Analyst, inewsource - Contributor through
Leo Castaneda is a investigative researcher and economic analyst for inewsource, a nonprofit journalism enterprise embedded in the KPBS newsroom.
Castaneda is a graduate of San Diego State University. He is bilingual and biliterate in Spanish.
Recent Stories by Leo Castañeda

Mapping The Vote: San Diego City Council Races
- Nov. 8, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
For the first time since 1991, San Diego voters on Tuesday ousted incumbent council members seeking re-election.

Eastlake Homeowners Pay Millions In Mello-Roos School Taxes But Money Goes Elsewhere
- July 31, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
Over the past three decades, the Sweetwater Union High School District has used at least $46 million in special taxes paid by property owners in the Eastlake neighborhood to fund projects in other parts of Chula Vista.

Update: Maps Of Final Primary Election Results In 2018 San Diego City Council Races
- July 9, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
Using the official election results, inewsource updated on Friday its precinct-level voting maps for the four San Diego City Council races decided in the June 5 primary.

Incumbent Myrtle Cole Finishes Second In Tight San Diego Council Race
- July 5, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
The tallying of votes in two close San Diego City Council races ended Thursday, with challenger Monica Montgomery finishing first ahead of Councilwoman Myrtle Cole by six votes. They’ll both compete in the November runoff to represent the southeastern San Diego district.

After Audit, San Ysidro Freezes Life Insurance Accounts For Ex-Superintendent And His Deputy
- June 26, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
The two are accused of receiving about $207,000 in life insurance payments and the school district wants it back.

DA Gets San Ysidro School Audit, Welcomes Info On Any ‘Suspected Public Corruption’
- June 21, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
As promised last week, a scathing state audit of the San Ysidro School District that found two former top administrators were overpaid almost $324,000 has been delivered to the District Attorney’s Office.

State Audit: DA Should Investigate Ex-San Ysidro Superintendent For Possible Financial Fraud
- June 15, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
State auditors found the San Ysidro School District’s former superintendent and his top deputy engaged in possible financial fraud and misuse of district funds, and they recommended their findings be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office.

Despite Incumbency, Councilwoman Cole Could Be Underdog In Fall Election
- June 14, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
Councilwoman Myrtle Cole once seemed a shoo-in for re-election. An inewsource analysis of last week’s vote suggests it may be tougher than she thought.

Supervisors: Strong Democratic Showing In Possible Swing Seat; Desmond Dominates More Republican District
- June 7, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
It’s no secret that Democratic leaders want to elect one of their own to the all-Republican San Diego County Board of Supervisors this fall. Tuesday’s vote shows their best chance is probably in termed-out Republican Ron Roberts’ heavily Democratic District 4.

Mapping The Vote In San Diego’s Key 2018 Primary Races
- June 6, 2018
- By Leo Castañeda / inewsource
You’ve cast your primary ballot and seen the overall election results. Now you can dig deeper into the numbers by using six searchable maps created by inewsource.