Campaign Statement Addressing Groups Targeting Me

Hi all, I’m going to address this once, as I’ve mentioned before: I do not believe engaging with the smear campaign is a productive use of my time, nor do I want to bring that kind of negativity to the people of Walnut.

There are far more productive ways I can spend my time serving our community, and that is where I intend to keep my focus.

The Facebook group “Stop Corruption Walnut” was created only a few days ago and, since then, appears to have been dedicated almost entirely to posting negative and sensational claims about me. I have no idea who is behind this group, what their motivations are, or what their intentions may be beyond this election.

That being said, I encourage everyone to do their own due diligence. Consider the source. Ask questions. Look for the full context before accepting something as fact simply because it was written in a Facebook post.

One recent post accused my campaign of placing yard signs on private homes without the owners’ consent, so I want to address that directly.

All of my volunteers have been instructed not to place signs on private property unless we know the resident or have received permission in advance. I currently have only five volunteers, some of whom do not drive, so claims that my campaign is placing signs widely and indiscriminately throughout Walnut simply do not align with the reality of our campaign. I also do not recognize the residents who have claimed that my campaign placed signs at their homes.

I welcome any doorbell footage, photos, or other evidence. If it is confirmed that one of my volunteers was responsible, I want to know so I can address it directly, remove the sign, and reinforce our training.

Unfortunately, issues involving campaign signs have not been limited to these allegations. Our own signs have repeatedly gone missing or been deliberately damaged. Because of that, I cannot completely rule out the possibility that signs may have been placed by someone outside of my campaign. At the same time, I do not want to make accusations without evidence, which is why I am asking anyone with footage or information to please share it with me directly.

I am also deeply concerned by attempts to associate me with alleged Chinese espionage. Beyond being misleading and lacking important context, rhetoric that attempts to create suspicion around someone through such a tenuous connection can reinforce harmful stereotypes about Chinese Americans.

Walnut has a large and valued Chinese American community, and we should all be concerned about the broader impact of this kind of rhetoric. Political disagreements are fair game, but they should be based on facts and legitimate issues, not insinuations that risk making an entire community feel viewed with suspicion because of their ethnicity or heritage. I have no personal relationships with who these people are associating me with. We were members of the same Chinese-American community group from years ago, and she had asked all members to donate to her campaign. As a fellow Chinese-American woman, I donated only $200 to show my support, without a clue on her true identity. Funny enough, when it was my turn to ask for donations from everyone, she gave nothing. Nonetheless, this kind of rhetoric is not only damaging to the Asian community as it means any Asian can be accused, but it is damaging to the reputation the great City of Walnut has maintained.

This also points to something I have heard directly from residents that concerns me even more: some people want to support the candidate of their choice but are hesitant to have their name or address made public because they worry about offending someone with influence or facing unnecessary consequences.

No resident should feel that way.

Councilmembers are elected to serve the people. Every Walnut resident should be free to support a candidate, speak openly, and vote for the person they believe best reflects their values and Walnut’s future. No elected official, candidate, or campaign should make residents feel they do not have that freedom.

That is a culture I hope to change. I want residents to feel heard, to have their choices respected, and to participate in our community without fear of retaliation or unnecessary political pressure.

If anyone has a genuine question about me, my campaign, my background, or something you have seen posted online, you are always welcome to ask me directly. If an unauthorized sign appeared at your home, please contact me and share any footage or information you may have. My contact information is available on my website.

I have nothing to hide, and I would much rather have an honest conversation with a resident than spend my time arguing with an anonymous Facebook group.

Whether or not you support me, I am your neighbor and a fellow Walnut resident. If you have a question, need help, or simply want someone to lend an ear, you are always welcome to reach out.

My focus remains where it has always been: listening to Walnut residents, discussing the issues that actually affect our community, and doing the work I believe will make Walnut better.

I’ll leave the online drama to others and get back to work.

Warmly,

Diana Zhao