Loella Haskew was elected to the Walnut City Council in November 2012. She is currently serving as Mayor. She previously served as Mayor in 2016 and 2020, and was Mayor Pro Tem in 2015 and 2019.

She previously served on the Community Blue Ribbon Task Force on Fiscal Health and the Arts Vision Task Force and is a Walnut Creek Citizens Institute graduate.

Loella has an extensive history of community service. Currently, she serves on the board of directors for the Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund. She is a past member of the board of directors of the Diablo Regional Arts Association; prior to joining the DRAA board, she served as a trustee for the organization. Other boards she has served on include the Walnut Creek Library Foundation, the Contra Costa Childcare Council, New Connections, the Cancer Support Community, and the Pleasant Hill/Martinez Soccer Association. As a volunteer soccer referee, she was twice named “Referee of the Year.”    

Loella received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Golden Gate University, summa cum laude, in 1980 and her Masters in Taxation from Golden Gate in 1986. She taught as an adjunct instructor in the Masters of Tax Program at Golden Gate University for several years, served on the Statewide Committee of Taxation for the California Society of CPAS, and drafted questions used in the CPA exam. She practiced accounting for a Walnut Creek firm until July 2012 and considers herself “almost retired.”  

Loella was born in Staten Island, New York. She moved to California just before her senior year of high school. She is married to Walnut Creek CPA Ralph Haskew. Her son, Steven Dotterer, retired from the Army as Sergeant First Class, and is training to work for the Veterans Administration. Her daughter-in-law, Joelyn Dotterer, is completing her service to our country. Loella is also proud of her two grandchildren.