Michael Lin Sworn In as Walnut Valley Water District Director, Bringing New Leadership and Financial Expertise to Public Service

July 21, 2026 4:49 pm

Michael Lin Sworn In as Walnut Valley Water District Director, Bringing CPA Expertise to Public Service

WALNUT, Calif. — Michael Lin, CPA, MBT, was officially sworn in as the new Director of Division 5 of the Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) on July 20, marking a new chapter of public service and community leadership.

Michael Lin Sworn In as Walnut Valley Water District Director. Photo by Keyang Pang

The ceremonial oath of office, held at the district headquarters, was attended by elected officials, community leaders, international representatives, family members, and supporters. Guests included Walnut City Councilmember Allen Wu, Diamond Bar City Councilmember Dr. Chia-Yu Teng, WVWD Director Teresa Lee, representatives from the Chilean Consulate, Paraguayan Embassy, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, as well as former Torrance Mayor George Chen, former Walnut Mayor Andrew Rodriguez, and former Yorba Linda Mayor Janice Lim.

The oath was administered by Jack J. Barcal, Associate Professor of Accounting at USC Marshall School of Business.

Lin succeeds former Director Scarlett Kwong and will represent Division 5 residents in Walnut, Diamond Bar, Pomona, and Rowland Heights.

“I am honored to serve as Director of Division 5 and look forward to bringing my expertise to serve our community,” Lin said. “Having lived in the district since 1999, this is an opportunity for me to give back and help make our community better.”

A Certified Public Accountant with a Master of Business Taxation background, Lin said he plans to apply his financial expertise to support responsible budgeting, effective resource management, and long-term planning while helping maintain reliable water services for residents.

L to R: Walnut Valley Water District Director of Division 1 Jerry Tang, Director of Division 5 Michael Lin, Director of Division 2 Edwin Hilden, and Director of Division 3 Theresa Lee. Photo by Keyang Pang

WVWD Director Teresa Lee welcomed Lin’s appointment, saying his financial expertise would be a valuable asset to the district.

“Michael is a CPA and understands numbers. I hope he can help us maintain responsible management and keep water rates affordable for our residents,” Lee said.

Walnut City Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Allen Wu, who became the first Chinese American to serve on the WVWD Board in 2003, said he was pleased to witness a new generation of community leadership.

“Seeing the next generation step forward represents continuity and sustainable leadership,” Wu said. “I look forward to the district continuing to provide excellent service to residents of all backgrounds.”

Diamond Bar City Councilmember Dr. Chia-Yu Teng also praised Lin’s professional background, noting that his accounting expertise would help the district make careful financial decisions and protect residents’ interests.

Serving communities across Walnut, Diamond Bar, Pomona, and Rowland Heights, the Walnut Valley Water District plays a key role in providing safe and reliable water services. Lin said he looks forward to working with the board, staff, and residents to build a stronger and more sustainable future for the community.