DIAMOND BAR, ANN NEWS – Walnut Valley Water District Division 5 Director Michael Y. Lin, CPA, MBT, officially kicked off his campaign on September 26 in Diamond Bar, drawing residents, supporters, community leaders and local elected officials from across the region as he seeks voter support to continue serving on the Water District Board.
All four of Lin’s fellow Walnut Valley Water District Board members were also in attendance in support of Lin’s campaign. Additional local elected officials present were Walnut Mayor Allen Wu and Diamond Bar Councilmembers Dr. Chia Yu Teng and Stan Liu, along with other local community stakeholders and candidates.
Lin thanked the elected officials for their commitment to public service and recognized those who, like him, are seeking the opportunity to continue serving their communities.
“The people who step forward to serve at the local level understand that public service is about listening, being accessible and doing the work for the people we represent,” Lin said. “I’m grateful to have so many friends and community leaders here today supporting not only my campaign, but our shared commitment to the communities we call home.”
Lin was appointed to the Walnut Valley Water District Board in July 2026 to represent Division 5 and is running in the November 3 election to continue serving the communities he has called home for most of his life.
“Diamond Bar has been home to my family and me since 1999. This is where I grew up, went to school, built lifelong friendships and watched our community grow,” Lin said. “Serving on the Water District Board gives me an opportunity to bring my professional experience back to the community that gave me so much.”
Lin is a product of Walnut Valley Unified School District. He attended Quail Summit Elementary School, South Pointe Middle School and Diamond Bar High School before attending the University of California, Santa Barbara. His education also included study at National Taiwan University and Peking University, followed by a Master of Business Taxation from the University of Southern California.
A Certified Public Accountant, Lin’s professional background includes experience at PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and years of work in accounting, taxation, finance, business advisory and management.
Lin said that experience provides an important perspective on a public board responsible for making long-term decisions involving rates, budgets, infrastructure and the stewardship of public resources.
“As a CPA, I know fiscal responsibility isn’t simply about spending less—it’s about spending wisely, planning ahead and making sure every dollar delivers value to the people we serve,” Lin said. “Our residents deserve reliable water and the confidence that their money is being managed responsibly.”
Lin’s campaign will focus on five priorities: keeping water affordable; protecting safe and reliable water; modernizing and protecting infrastructure; fiscal responsibility and accountability; and planning for the community’s long-term water future.
His priorities include carefully reviewing costs and investments while maintaining reliable water service; supporting resources and infrastructure needed to maintain water quality and reliability; investing responsibly in pipelines, reservoirs, pumps, meters and technology; strengthening cybersecurity protections for water systems and customer information; and applying financial analysis, long-term planning and oversight to decisions involving ratepayer dollars.
“Water is something we depend on every single day, but most people shouldn’t have to spend every day thinking about it,” Lin said. “When you turn on your faucet, you should have confidence that safe, reliable water will be there. Our responsibility is to plan and invest wisely today so that remains true for the next generation.”
Since arriving in Diamond Bar in 1999, Lin has spent nearly three decades watching Diamond Bar, Walnut Valley and neighboring communities develop and change. He describes his decision to enter public service as a continuation of that experience—from growing up and attending school locally, to building a professional career, and now bringing that experience back to the community.
“I believe strong communities require people who are willing to contribute their time, experience and energy,” Lin said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve, and now I’m asking the voters of Division 5 for the opportunity to continue that work.”
Lin also emphasized that his first months on the Board have been an opportunity to learn from the District’s professional staff and better understand the complex challenges facing local water agencies.
“I’ve only been on the Board for a few months, so I’m not going to take credit for work that began before I arrived,” Lin said. “What I can promise is that I will ask questions, study the issues, listen to our residents and bring my financial experience and independent judgment to every decision that comes before me.”
Division 5 includes parts of Diamond Bar, Walnut, West Covina, Pomona and City of Industry.
Lin is running in the November 3, 2026 election.
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