Posted by Steven Levin on April 07, 2016 at 1:59 PM
On April 5, 2016, CCSA Advocates-supported candidate Dr. Joaquin Arambula won the special election to replace Assemblymember Henry Perea in Assembly District 31, which includes parts of Fresno and adjoining areas in California's Central Valley. Perea left the seat to pursue a job in the private sector.
Arambula, an emergency room physician, received 52 percent of the vote to 42 percent for Clint Olivier, a Fresno City Council member and 5.7 percent for Ted Miller, an engineer from Caruthers.
This win allows Arambula to avoid a runoff and begin serving out the remaining eight months left in Perea’s term almost immediately. Next comes part two of the election, which will be a primary in June between the same three men, and then a November runoff between the top two finishers in the race, which most observers speculate will be another contest between Arambula and Olivier. The winner of that showdown will represent the district for two years beginning in December.
Joaquin’s father, Juan Arambula, former school board member, Fresno County Supervisor and California Assembly member, is the son of migrant farm workers, who grew up working in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley. His mother, Amy, is a dedicated community advocate and attorney.
Dr. Arambula and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Kingsburg; their three young daughters attend Kingsburg Elementary Charter School.
CCSA Advcoates extends a warm congratulations to Dr. Arambula.