‘Politics be damned.’ Fresno assemblyman and wife reach agreement amid divorce
After a “nasty” start to their divorce, Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula and Elizabeth Arambula last week stood just a few feet apart in a show of goodwill they can be amicable as they proceed to the end of their nearly 15-year marriage.
The Fresno Democrat and candidate for Fresno City Council District 3 in the June 2 primary election said he placed his family above any potential blight the divorce proceedings could be on his campaign.
“Politics be damned,” he said. “I’m focused on making sure that I’m the best person that I can be: the best father and the best public servant.”
The Arambulas appeared Friday in a B.F. Sisk Courthouse courtroom as part of the divorce, which began through official court filings on Jan. 26.
Little happened in the open courtroom on Friday, but both Arambulas and their attorneys assured a gaggle of reporters that the two had met and worked out a temporary agreement while they continue the dissolution of their marriage.
He would again be allowed to see their three children and she would be provided financial support. They declined to discuss the details beyond that.
“I’ve always been focused on making sure that I have access to my daughters as any father would want to be able to have access to their children, and it’s always been my North Star,” Joaquin Arambula said. “I’m glad that we were able to reach that agreement.”
Elizabeth Arambula declined to comment, deferring to her attorney, Zeppy Attashian.
“I don’t know that you could even say that there are hard feelings between the Arambulas,” Attashian said. “I believe it’s just a transition in life and in a time in their life where they’re having to say some maybe unlikeable or unpleasant things about one another.”
The divorce came to light amid ugly accusations stated in court filings. Elizabeth Arambula claimed the assemblymember had problems with marijuana use and overspending on smartphone video games.
Joaquin Arambula acknowledged his marijuana use in a signed Feb. 13 declaration to the court that noted he entered the voluntary inpatient program Jan. 7 designed to provide him skills to cope with stress. He wrote he completed the program Feb. 6 in an effort to ensure he did not become dependent on marijuana or alcohol.
In a letter to the court, he said he had not been able to visit his three daughters.
Elizabeth Arambula described herself in filings as a stay-at-home mom for 15 years, asking the court to intercede in the financial standings of the couple. He controlled all of their savings, checking and credit cards.
The Arambulas have before survived a difficult time that caught media attention. He was arrested in December 2018 on a misdemeanor child abuse charge after police were called out to his then 7-year-old daughter’s elementary school in what his defense attorney called a prosecution for political reasons. He was found not guilty in March 2019 after a nine-day trial.
L. Kim Aguirre, Joaquin Arambula’s attorney, said Friday the Arambulas have experienced what is common in most divorces.
“Divorces are always nasty, especially at the inception. They’re hard,” he said. “You’re splitting up; you’re changing your life.
“They’re moving along. They’re getting along better. They’re going to make this work, especially for their kids.”
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 1:53 PM with the headline "‘Politics be damned.’ Fresno assemblyman and wife reach agreement amid divorce."
