Four Candidates for Two Walnut City Council Seats, Two Chinese Americans Running

Walnut City's 2026 city council election field is set! In November, voters will elect two people to fill the vacancies.

A total of four people have registered, and the city government says their paperwork is complete and qualifications are fine. This election looks like it will be quite intense.

First, let's talk about current Mayor Li-lun Wu. He has deep roots, having lived here since 1989. He became a city councilman in 2018 and served as mayor in both 2022 and this year (2026). His academic credentials are impressive: he holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from USC, plus master's degrees in environmental engineering and public administration. He previously worked as a water engineer and project manager at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, and was the first Chinese-American water rights arbitrator in the Los Angeles area. He says he has served the community diligently for eight years. Public safety has improved significantly, especially regarding theft, with cases in 2025 down more than 35% from 2024, and some communities even reporting 'zero incidents.' Municipal construction, education, and other areas have all met standards, and the government budget has had a surplus for all eight years.

Next is current council member Ritchie Cajulis. He has lived in Walnut for over 20 years. Before joining the city council in 2022, he served on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He studied electronic and communications engineering and currently works as an IT analyst at a large law firm. His goals include enhancing city services, protecting the natural environment, strengthening public and cyber security, and promoting downtown development.

Another Chinese-American candidate is Zhao Hong, a psychological counselor. This is her second run for city council. She came to the U.S. 23 years ago as a visiting scholar, earned a master's degree in 2003, and received a Ph.D. from USC in 2021. She has lived in Walnut for over 13 years. She worked at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services for 16 years, and now she is a business owner/CEO and a licensed psychotherapist. In recent years, she has been very active in the community and knows many people.

There is also a fresh challenger named Stefanie Leilua. She just passed the qualification review and is building her campaign website. For now, there is limited public information about her, so we'll have to wait and see what she plans to do.

It is said that in recent years, Walnut voters care most about these issues: public safety; how to maintain the 'Walnut character' in urban development; road and transportation infrastructure; how to protect parks and hillsides; and finances and city services. These will certainly be the focus of discussion in this election.

Before voting, everyone should take time to learn more about the candidates, because who we choose directly affects our future lives!