From Fresno advocate to political aspirant, Sandra Celedon takes aim at Assembly race
When a local politician announces a run for public office or files the necessary paperwork, my typical reaction is a shrug.
Running for office is what politicians do. Some are so eager they don't even wait for an election to pass before launching campaigns and nabbing endorsements for the next one.
Yes, Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza, that's directed at you.
But when an outspoken community organizer who has successfully advocated for Fresno's least-fortunate residents and its most-neglected neighborhoods enters the political space, my interest gets piqued.
Opinion
This explains how I found myself seated across a restaurant table from Sandra Celedon for her first interview as a candidate for state Assembly in District 31, which covers much of Fresno and a swath of the county. Joaquin Arambula, the seat's current occupant, plans to run for Fresno City Council in 2026 – potentially as a prelude to a mayoral run in 2028.
'With Joaquin Arambula terming out, I don't see a champion for the people of this district. I don't see someone who's willing to fight for them,' Celedon said during our hour-long conversation. 'Over the last two decades I don't think there's anyone who has fought as hard as I have for the people of this community, to be honest …
'Everything I've done at the local level, that's what I want to be able to bring to Sacramento on behalf of the people of Fresno and this Valley. That's why I'm running.'
As president and CEO of Fresno Building Healthy Communities, Celedon is one of the most visible faces and effective leaders of the region's burgeoning social and environmental justice movement. In 2018 her organization's youth interns did much of the legwork and collected signatures for Measure P, Fresno's parks tax, which received 52% approval despite heavy opposition from the mayor, police chief, business groups and influential developers.
Advocates again demonstrated their ballot box might in 2022 when Celedon and fellow nonprofit Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability co-spearheaded the No on Measure C campaign that blocked a 30-year extension of the county's transportation tax sought by civic leaders.
Besides subverting the powers-that-be, Celedon has been instrumental in several advocacy efforts that resulted in significant local investments. Foremost among these is the Transformative Climate Communities program that brought in $70 million in state cap-and-trade funds, including nearly $17 million toward construction of the Fresno City College campus in southwest Fresno.
'We were advocating for Fresno to be first to get that money,' she said. 'It didn't just happen.'
Celedon's group has also been involved in multiple lawsuits against businesses and government agencies, including one currently pending in federal court that charges Community Health System of misusing Medi-Cal funds for its Clovis hospital expansion.
It's early yet, but the only other candidate to file paperwork with the California Secretary of State for the AD 31 race is Annalisa Perea. The Fresno city council member has not made a formal announcement.
Celedon certainly appears to be Arambula's choice to succeed him in the Fresno region's most Democrat-leaning assembly district. Her fledgling campaign committee received a $5,900 contribution from Arambula's 2024 account – the maximum allowed by state law – as well as $5,900 donations from attorneys Amelia Arambula (Joaquin's mother and wife of former Fresno County Supervisor Juan Arambula), Amparo Cid and former state lawmaker Sarah Reyes.
'Dr. Arambula didn't recruit me, and neither did the Arambula family. I want to be clear on that,' Celedon said. 'I'm not part of any political dynasty. I'd like to say the reason they are supporting me is because they've seen me in action.'
Celedon grew up and until a few years ago lived in Calwa, an unincorporated community of 2,100 on Fresno's southern outskirts. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who began life in the U.S. as farm laborers before advancing to higher-paying jobs that allowed them to scrounge up enough money to buy a house. (Her father worked at a warehouse that manufactured shingles; her mother cleaned hotel rooms.)
Looking back, Celedon credits the stability provided by her parents as the reason she was able to attend Fresno State and set herself up for success. She believes those opportunities have since diminished due to the rising costs of housing, food, gas and electricity combined with the dearth of living-wage jobs.
'I am a working-class person from this district,' Celedon said. 'I understand what it means to have to make a hard decision over which bill to pay this month. I understand what it's like to take care of an elderly parent or handle childcare.
'It's not anecdotal. I've lived the challenges people are experiencing.'
Opinionated and outspoken, Celedon drew scrutiny from certain local news outlets and criticism from conservatives for tweeting 'Burn it down. #BlackLivesMatter. No justice, no peace. Enough is enough' in regard to a Minneapolis police precinct that was torched by rioters following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
Asked about the post, Celedon called it 'a visceral response to what was happening in this country at that time.' Her X account has since been deleted.
'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.'
Five years later, one of Fresno's most effective community advocates is running for state Assembly. Doubt her at your own peril.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News24
17 hours ago
- News24
‘Dr Death' vs HPCSA; Manhunt intensifies for ex-Transnet employee: Today's top 7 stories
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Jan Gerber/News24 'Flagrant disdain for accountability': Ntshavheni hides travel costs from public - Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is refusing to publicly disclose her travel costs, directing inquiries to a confidential intelligence committee, sparking outrage from ActionSA. - ActionSA's investigation revealed the GNU spent over R200 million on travel, including a R950 000 hotel bill for Deputy President Paul Mashatile in Tokyo, which his office defends as not extravagant. - Despite refusing to disclose the costs, Ntshavheni has actively posted about her travels on social media, raising questions about transparency and accountability. Illustration by Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images IcasaSePush pulls the plug to keep Starlink mission alive - IcasaSePush, an unofficial Starlink supplier in South Africa, has halted operations to avoid hindering the legal and sustainable introduction of Starlink in the country. - The company's decision follows increased scrutiny and a clampdown on illegal Starlink usage, despite the connectivity services having a 'life-changing' impact on users. - IcasaSePush supports proposed policy changes that could allow Starlink to operate legally in South Africa and is open to future partnerships with a less provocative brand. Sithandiwe Velaphi /News24 49 dead in Eastern Cape deluge, says provincial government - Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane says the death toll in the Eastern Cape's devastating floods has risen to 49, while the search continues for residents who remained unaccounted for. - Heavy rains engulfed the Decoligny village of Mthatha on Tuesday and left many houses submerged in water while many residents were displaced. - About 500 residents were displaced after their houses were destroyed by floods. Manhunt intensifies for ex-Transnet employee allegedly behind whistleblower hit - A whistleblower report exposing a 4 500% markup on a Transnet Freight Rail tender led to a murder plot, resulting in the death of engineer Armand Swart in a case of mistaken identity. - Former Transnet employee Lucky Molefe is a fugitive suspected of being the inside man who manipulated the procurement system and set the murder plot in motion after the price surge was reported. - Police uncovered a sophisticated crime network involving businesspeople, contract killers, a police detective – allegedly linked to multiple murders and racketeering activities – and money laundering through businesses. 'Dr Death' vs HPCSA: Medical watchdog persecuting me – Wouter Basson - Dr Wouter Basson is seeking a stay of his disciplinary inquiry by the HPCSA, citing unreasonable delays and deteriorated memory regarding actions from over 40 years ago. - The HPCSA argues Basson's application is without merit, stating delays were partly due to Basson and the State's funding of his legal costs. - Basson, the former head of Project Coast, claims the inquiry is persecution, not public protection, and that he lacks expert witnesses due to the death of one and the unwillingness of others to testify. Proteas done with talk – at Lord's, bat and ball will answer all - Temba Bavuma emphasises South Africa's unity and determination as they prepare to face Australia in the World Test Championship final. - South Africa's bowlers need to exploit Australia's vulnerable top order to secure a victory, while Bavuma sees this as a chance to defy the 'chokers' tag. - Bavuma acknowledges the significance of a win for South African cricket, which needs this victory more than Australia does.


News24
2 days ago
- News24
‘Mantashe is a liar': Zuma to file perjury case over R40m ex-mine workers' claim
Zuma tells City Press he will file a perjury case against Mantashe, accusing him of lying under oath. Mantashe responded with a crimen injuria charge against Zuma, calling the allegations defamatory. The dispute involves a payout from East Rand Property Mines liquidation in 1999, which mineworkers say was never delivered. Mining rights activist Zakhele Zuma says he plans to lay a perjury charge against Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, accusing him of giving false testimony in a sworn police statement. Zuma alleged that Mantashe, in the police statement, denied claims that he mishandled R40 million owed to former East Rand Property Mines (ERPM) mine workers. 'He lied under oath,' Zuma told City Press. 'This is about accountability, not politics. Instead of addressing the workers' concerns, the minister is using legal tactics to avoid the truth.' Zakhele Zuma WATCH: Ex-mine workers and families accuse Mantashe, NUM of betrayal, demand 'R40m, with interest' Earlier this month, Mantashe opened a crimen injuria case against Zuma at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria, after Zuma publicly accused him of failing to pay out the R40 million. When the ERPM was liquidated in 1999, at least 4 000 workers were affected. Many had worked deep underground for years, often in unsafe conditions. In the aftermath of the mine's closure, workers say they were told that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), then under the leadership of its general secretary, Mantashe, had received their settlement packages and would invest the money on their behalf. Zuma claims Mantashe assured workers their money would be invested for ten years, but no returns have materialised. Mantashe denied the allegations in an interview with City Press: 'I do not know this man personally, and these claims are false and defamatory. I will pursue legal action because I will not allow my name to be dragged through the mud.' Mantashe further told City Press that he believed Zuma was not acting independently, but is part of a broader political agenda, adding that while he does not know Zuma personally, he sees 'clear political motives' behind the activist's allegations. Mahlatsi Moleya WATCH: Paul Mashatile defends spending millions on overseas trips The core of the dispute concerns mostly elderly, uneducated mineworkers who say they trusted Mantashe's promise that their payout would be managed responsibly—something they say never happened. Both parties now find themselves in a legal battle, with Zuma preparing to charge Mantashe with perjury, while Mantashe continues to press charges for crimen injuria against Zuma.

Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- Wall Street Journal
DOGE Has Work Left to Do
Given Elon Musk's departure from the Department of Government Efficiency, where should DOGE go from here? The Trump administration created the department to reduce government fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. As a special government employee, Mr. Musk was prevented by law from working more than 130 days a year in that role—but that doesn't mean the effort should end with his exit. Since January, DOGE has conducted a review of a range of government information systems, and the team's work has significantly increased public concern over waste and abuse in the federal government. Building on the work done by the Government Accountability Office and the inspectors general of various agencies, DOGE's efforts have reinforced the need for updated information systems, stronger internal controls and modern management practices.