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Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has been accused of repeatedly appearing intoxicated during city-related events, making racially derogatory remarks and asking intrusive questions about sexuality, according to a newly released 25-page government claim.
Berenice Ballinas, who has worked in Aitken’s office since December 2022 as her chief of staff, alleges harassment, discrimination and retaliation based on her perceived sexual orientation, Mexican heritage and Catholic faith.
The filing also accuses the city of failing to adequately respond after concerns were raised.
Ballinas outlines a number of alleged incidents involving Aitken, including accusations about the mayor’s conduct while drinking.
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Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is facing allegations of discrimination, harassment and inappropriate conduct from her chief of staff, Berenice Ballinas. Aitken has denied using the racial slur attributed to her and said the allegations should be investigated. (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
She alleges that Aitken arrived at a City Council meeting in April 2025 appearing “visibly impaired by alcohol.”
After a closed session at the meeting, Ballinas says she ultimately drove Aitken home in then-City Manager Jim Vanderpool’s city vehicle. During the roughly 15-minute ride, the claim alleges Aitken began searching through Vanderpool’s vehicle and personal belongings and taking photographs with her cellphone.
Ballinas says she objected and told the mayor to delete the photos because Vanderpool’s information was private.
Aitken is also accused in the claim of making racially derogatory remarks.
Ballinas alleges that Aitken made multiple derogatory comments concerning her Mexican heritage and referred to her as a “dirty Mexican.”
During a separate incident at Disneyland in May 2025, Ballinas said she offered to drive Aitken after believing the mayor was too intoxicated to drive home safely. However, Aitken allegedly declined the offer because she refused to have “a Mexican” drive her, according to the claim.
Aitken has directly denied using the racial slur attributed to her and said the allegations deserve to be investigated.
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Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has pledged to cooperate with a city review of allegations made by her chief of staff. The city says an independent investigation is expected. (Mindy Schauer/Orange County Register/SCNG via Getty Images)
“These allegations are extremely serious, and they deserve to be investigated. I did not use the racial slur attributed to me, and I have always been a champion of the LGBTQ community,” she said in a statement posted last month on Facebook.
Digital has reached out to Aitken’s office for comment.
Ballinas also described alleged conduct during a team dinner, where she said she observed Aitken becoming “physically affectionate” with another person, including touching and grabbing him, resulting in the mayor’s husband removing her from the event.
While walking back toward the hotel, Ballinas alleges Aitken became angry and knocked or pushed over a bicycle, damaging its mirror, before later falling in the street.
Aitken then fell in the street, according to the claim.
When Ballinas told the mayor’s husband that Aitken was not OK and needed help, he allegedly responded, “Don’t we all?”
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Anaheim officials are reviewing allegations against Mayor Ashleigh Aitken contained in a government claim filed by her chief of staff. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The filing says Aitken’s husband later asked Ballinas to make a Venmo payment to compensate the bicycle’s owner.
Ballinas also makes several allegations concerning questions about her perceived sexual orientation.
She said Aitken took her to Disneyland’s Club 33 for a birthday lunch on June 10, 2026, where the mayor consumed alcohol and repeatedly questioned whether Ballinas was a lesbian.
Later at the 1901 Lounge, Aitken allegedly questioned a Disney cast member about whether he was gay or straight and about his dating life.
Disney later sent written correspondence to the Club 33 member whose membership was used for the visit, saying cast members had reported “rude, insensitive, and inappropriate remarks” during the outing.
The government claim says Ballinas was forced to take leave beginning around July 31 and alleges retaliation after she reported or opposed conduct she believed violated laws or workplace rules.
Anaheim has said a review of the allegations is underway. Aitken has pledged to participate in the process.
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She is currently seeking another term as Anaheim mayor in the Nov. 3 election.
