Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken faces a 25-page claim from her chief of staff alleging drunken behavior, a racial slur and harassment, charges the mayor denies.
Fox News reported that a newly released government claim by Berenice Ballinas details a pattern of alleged misconduct by Mayor Ashleigh Aitken at city-related events, along with accusations that Anaheim failed to respond adequately after concerns were raised.
Ballinas has worked in Aitken’s office as chief of staff since December 2022. In the filing she alleges harassment, discrimination and retaliation tied to her perceived sexual orientation, Mexican heritage and Catholic faith. She also says she faced retaliation after she reported or opposed conduct she believed violated laws or workplace rules.
Aitken is seeking another term as Anaheim mayor in the Nov. 3 election. The city has said a review of the allegations is underway and an independent investigation is expected. Aitken has pledged to participate.
The claim describes an April 2025 City Council meeting in which Aitken allegedly arrived appearing “visibly impaired by alcohol.” After a closed session, Ballinas drove the mayor home in then-City Manager Jim Vanderpool’s city vehicle.
During the roughly 15-minute ride, the claim says, Aitken searched through the vehicle and personal belongings and took photographs with her cellphone. Ballinas objected and told the mayor to delete the photos because Vanderpool’s information was private.
Ballinas further alleges that Aitken made multiple derogatory comments about her Mexican heritage and used a racial slur. In a separate May 2025 incident at Disneyland, Ballinas offered to drive after concluding the mayor was too intoxicated to drive home safely. According to the claim, Aitken declined and refused to have “a Mexican” drive her.
Aitken posted a statement on Facebook last month addressing the accusations.
"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,"
Fox News Digital reached out to Aitken’s office for additional comment.
At a team dinner, Ballinas says she watched Aitken become “physically affectionate” with another person, including touching and grabbing him. The mayor’s husband removed her from the event.
While walking back toward the hotel, the claim states, Aitken became angry, knocked or pushed over a bicycle and damaged its mirror, then later fell in the street. When told the mayor was not okay and needed help, her husband allegedly replied, “Don't we all?” He later asked Ballinas to make a Venmo payment to compensate the bicycle’s owner.
On June 10, 2026, Aitken took Ballinas to Disneyland’s Club 33 for a birthday lunch. The claim says 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. Cast members had reported “rude, insensitive, and inappropriate remarks” during the outing.
Ballinas says she was forced to take leave beginning around July 31 and frames that leave as retaliation for reporting or opposing the conduct.
Anaheim officials say they are reviewing the allegations and expect an independent investigation. Aitken has said she will cooperate. The claim itself runs 25 pages and puts both the mayor’s personal conduct and the city’s response under scrutiny while voters prepare to decide whether she gets another term.
No arrests or formal findings of proof are described in the reporting. What is on the record is a detailed staff claim, a mayoral denial of the racial slur, a city review, and a reelection race already underway.
Public office is not a private club. When a mayor’s own chief of staff puts intoxication, racial language and workplace harassment into a formal claim, voters and taxpayers have every right to demand a full accounting before anyone asks for another term.
