Mayor Ritchie Cajulis – Photo courtesy of the City of Walnut
Filipino American Ritchie Cajulis was appointed Walnut mayor on Sept. 24, 2025, joining Antonio “Tony” Cartagena as one of two Filipinos to have held the city’s top leadership role.
WALNUT, Calif. – The City of Walnut entered a new chapter of leadership after the City Council, during its annual rotation on September 24, 2025, appointed Ritchie Cajulis as mayor.
Walnut’s five councilmembers serve staggered four-year terms, and each year they select from among themselves who will serve as mayor. The mayor presides at council meetings, represents the city at official and community functions, and signs city documents, while day-to-day administration remains under the City Manager.
Cajulis’s appointment is a milestone for the Filipino American community in the San Gabriel Valley. Census-derived estimates show about 3,600 Filipino residents in Walnut, roughly 12 percent of the city’s 28,000 residents, forming a visible part of the city’s majority-Asian population.
Cajulis and his family have lived in Walnut for more than two decades. He earned his degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Don Bosco Technical College in Manila, Philippines, and now works as an IT analyst at a major law firm.
Before joining the City Council in 2022, Cajulis served on the Parks and Recreation Commission, where he supported projects such as the Walnut Life Block Party, an event designed to showcase small and local businesses, and the Diversity Plaza project at Creekside Park. He has also been a regular volunteer at the city’s annual Walnut Family Festival, reflecting his steady engagement with civic life.
Beyond his work in city government, Cajulis is deeply involved with the community as a parishioner at Saint Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Church. He is active in ministries ranging from the adult basketball league to ushering and church liturgical environment projects, as well as other parish activities. His civic and parish commitments reflect the blend of professional expertise and community service that he brings to his role as mayor.
In outlining his vision for the city, Cajulis has emphasized the importance of building on Walnut’s existing city services while preserving its natural beauty and open spaces. He has also pointed to improving both public safety and cyber security as key priorities, while steering the long-term development of a downtown area to support residents and local businesses.
Cajulis follows in the footsteps of Antonio “Tony” Cartagena, a Filipino American leader originally from Basilan, Philippines, who served multiple terms on the Walnut City Council and was appointed mayor in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2013 before retiring in 2016. Cartagena was widely recognized for his civic service, with a professional career that included working as a Los Angeles County financial services supervisor and as an educator.
Together, Cartagena and Cajulis highlight the growing civic participation of Filipino Americans in local government, contributing to Walnut’s history of shared leadership and diverse representation.
Located in eastern Los Angeles County, Walnut is recognized as one of the region’s most livable suburban communities. The city’s population is just over 28,000, with a median household income above $108,000 and one of the highest levels of educational attainment in the San Gabriel Valley, as more than half of its residents hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Walnut’s demographics show a composition of roughly 63 percent Asian, 20 percent Hispanic or Latino, 10 percent White non-Hispanic, 4 percent African American, and 3 percent from other racial groups.
The mayoral transition underscores Walnut’s practice of rotating leadership annually, giving each councilmember an opportunity to help shape the city’s direction while reflecting the diversity of its residents.
