A Democratic candidate for State Assembly confronting domestic violence allegations made by a man he was living with is now under pressure from gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill and three top party leaders to either prove the claims are false or drop out of the race.
Ron Arnau, a former Woodland Park councilman running in the 40th district, has been accused of physically and emotionally abusing a man throughout a tumultuous relationship of nearly two years between 2014 and 2016.
His accuser, Cristen Serna-Tamayo, a physician, claims in court records that Arnau once held him at knifepoint for three hours in a Jersey City apartment they shared.
“These are serious allegations. Domestic violence is flat-out unacceptable. Mr. Arnau has only two options — immediately present unequivocal information to the public that this is not true, or step down from the ticket right away,” Sherrill said.
The party leaders – Democratic State Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr., the Essex Democratic chair, Bergen County Democratic Chairman Paul Juliano, and Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie – echoed Sherrill’s statement.
“We expect all candidates to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct. The allegations laid out in the press are disturbing,” Jones, Juliano, and Currie stated. “Mr. Arnau must either convincingly demonstrate the charges are false or immediately step aside.”
Arnau disputes Serna-Tamayo’s statement. He told the New Jersey Globe earlier this week that he had definitive “exculpatory evidence,” but has since failed to produce anything beyond a copy of a temporary restraining order.
Arnau claimed he was legally barred from releasing the evidence. But the consent agreement signed by both parties includes no confidentiality, non-disclosure, or sealing provisions—only a mutual no-contact clause.
His campaign spokesperson claimed Arnau no longer has documents related to the domestic violence incident. Neither of his attorneys is still with the law firm that represented him in the consent agreement; one is now a Superior Court Judge assigned to the Family Law Division.
“Several years ago, I was involved in a legal matter that was fully and favorably resolved. The case is sealed, but I’m working through the proper channels to unseal it and will continue to respect the court’s order in the meantime,” Arnau said in a statement on Friday. “I believe in a justice system that supports survivors, respects due process, and seeks the truth. The resolution of my case reflects that.”
The consent agreement says it “shall not constitute or be deemed to be an admission of any sort by either party.”
What Arnau did keep were some naked photos and videos of his accuser, which he sent to the New Jersey Globe in a bid to discredit him. One image shows Serna-Tamayo naked in the hallway of his apartment after being locked out by Arnau; Arnau took the photo from the peephole of his door.
In a telephone interview, Arnau initially said that the allegations occurred nearly a decade ago and that his recollections of Serna-Tamayo were unclear.
Serna-Tamayo said his relationship with Arnau was volatile from the start and that he was controlling, with frequent instances of physical violence.
The other Democratic candidate, former Caldwell Councilman Jeff Gates, has distanced himself from Arnau.
“I would not consider him a running mate,” Gates told the New Jersey Globe. “There are some very concerning allegations, and I’m not thrilled about being connected to someone these allegations are being made against.”
But Gates stopped short of asking Arnau to get out of the race.
“I have had some discussions with some higher-ups in the political parties,” he said. “That’s not my decision.”
Arnau indicated that he intends to remain in the race despite statements from Sherrill and the Democratic county chairmen.
“I won’t be sidetracked by attempts to exploit sensitive topics for political gain,” Arnau stated. “My campaign remains focused on moving forward — delivering honest leadership and real results for North Jersey families.”
Woodland Park Mayor Tracy Kallert said that Arnau never mentioned the domestic violence allegations when he was being interviewed for an appointment to the borough council in December 2023. She said he was asked to detail any issues regarding his past.
Kallert, a Democrat, said she will not support Arnau for the Assembly.
“I do not endorse him, nor do I support him as the Democratic nominee,” Kallert said. “These claims need to be taken seriously. I feel badly that this man went through this. My heart breaks for him.”
Arnau resigned from the council after six months after accusing his fellow Democrats of discriminatory comments toward the LGBTQ community, and dropped out of the race for a full term. He provided no evidence of his allegations; Kallert said she is awaiting the results of an independent investigation.
The Democratic organizations in Bergen, Essex, and Passaic counties backed only Gates in the primary. Arnau ran alone on a slate headed by another candidate for governor, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.
“We come from different wings of the party,” Gates explained. “But I don’t know of anyone else who raised their hand to run.”
The two are facing Republican Assemblymen Christopher DePhillips (R-Wyckoff) and Al Barlas (R-Cedar Grove) in a race Gates described as an “uphill battle for Democrats.”
Gates acknowledged that the allegations against Arnau make it unlikely that he can win an Assembly seat in a district that has never elected a Democrat.
The 40th district has never elected a Democrat to the State Assembly, and Gates acknowledged Arnau’s presence on the ticket makes an already steep climb even harder.
He said he would remain in the race regardless of Arnau’s decision.
“I’m in this no matter what,” said Gates. “I’m not going to let someone else pull me down.”
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