Anti-Arambula website launches. Former opponent behind political attacks
A former political opponent is behind a recent website attacking Joaquin Arambula, the state assemblymember now running for a Fresno City Council seat.
The group with the lengthy name, “Fresno Healthy Communities, No on Celedon for Assembly and Arambula for Fresno City Council 2026 and Yes on Polsgrove for Assembly 2026,” launched the website, Joaquin Needs a Job, this past weekend, days before the June 2 conclusion of the primary election.
It is the talk of the Fresno political orbit, with several political-types informing The Fresno Bee of its existence.
The independent expenditure group filed its statement of organization with the city of Fresno, with a date received stamp of May 26. It lists Solomon Verduzco as its principal officer. The committee has not revealed where its money is coming from. Campaign financial disclosure rules require filing a report for contributions of $1,000 or more within 24 hours. Fresno Healthy Communities has not filed such reports either with the city or state as of Monday.
The committee’s name is similar to Sandra Celedon’s nonprofit, Fresno Building Healthy Communities.
Arambula, D-Fresno, a state assemblymember since 2016, is one of seven candidates running for Fresno City Council District 3, composing of downtown and southwest Fresno. He is considered the front-runner.
Also running are former West Park School District Trustee Fernando Alvarez, crisis response manager Tiffany Apodaca, real estate broker Larry Burrus, tradesman Charles Montoya, Fresno County Department of Health administrative caseworker Jalen Swank and Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas.
Celedon, D-Fresno, is running against Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea, D-Fresno, and James Polsgrove, R-Fresno, a retired city of Fresno engineer technician. Arambula is endorsing and financially backing Celedon.
The website makes customary political accusations against Arambula’s 10-year voting record and also points out gifts he has accepted, including tickets to Disneyland. Arambula has listed accepting tickets from The Walt Disney Company in his Form 700 — the financial disclosure document required of all elected officials. His most recent Disney gift was $578 for tickets on Dec. 6, 2025.
The committee also sent out a text and mailer recalling Celedon’s “burn it down” social media post from 2020.
“We deserve an Assemblymember with better judgment focused on keeping us safe,” the message said, which included an unflattering Celedon image.
Last year after announcing her run for office, Celedon told The Fresno Bee the post was “a visceral response to what was happening in this country at that time.”
“Don’t judge me on a tweet — judge me on my actions,” she said. “I didn’t go out and be destructive. I woke up the next day and went to work. That’s when I joined the advocacy efforts that led to the Black Lives Matter march that ultimately led to the Fresno Commission on Police Reform.”
The attack website against Arambula and the messages against Celedon include the disclosure revealing who paid for the ads.
Who is Solomon Verduzco?
Verduzco ran against Arambula for the 31st District Assembly seat in 2024, losing 60% to 40%. He most recently worked as a staff aide for Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes. He formerly served as the chair for the Central Valley Young Republicans.
On his LinkedIn page, Verduzco wrote that he is about to enter the SMU Dedman School of Law.
Verduzco did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Arambula campaign responds
Arambula, through his campaign team, sent this response:
“I chose to leave my job as a doctor in an emergency room, where I saved many lives, to run for office and represent people in the state Assembly. I’m proud of the work I have done and the resources I have brought back for community. I have a job outside public service. I am a doctor. My license has remained active,” Arambula said.
“I am running for District 3 because it is my home, and I want to continue the work I started by making sure the district receives the attention it deserves. People who use smear tactics in politics and who hide behind fake social media profiles must be afraid of real change that uplifts all community,” Arambula said.
Regarding the Disney tickets, his campaign said it was part of a Latino Caucus policy retreat at Disneyland. He took his daughters.
“He has disclosed it, unlike people behind Fresno Healthy Communities group that have not filed or disclosed information to voters.,” campaign spokesperson Maria Lemus said.
What filings show about group
As an independent expenditure group, it cannot coordinate with any candidate. Polsgrove said he had no idea the committee existed until reading about it in the media.
The group has filed spending documents with the city and the California Secretary of State. Expenditures $1,000 or more must be reported within 24 hours according to state campaign finance law.
Fresno Healthy Communities spent $6,370.15 on text messages and mailers against Arambula. It spent a combined $42,263.78 on mailers and texts for Polsgrove and against opponent Sandra Celedon in the Assembly race. The group did not list any spending on Perea.
