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Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has been accused of repeatedly appearing intoxicated at city-related events, making racist remarks and asking intrusive questions about sexuality, according to a recently released 25-page government statement.
Berenice Ballinas, who has worked in Aitken’s office since December 2022 as 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 address the concerns raised.
Ballinas describes a number of alleged incidents involving Aitken, including accusations regarding 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 denied using the racial slurs attributed to him 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 looking “visibly impaired by alcohol.”
After a closed-door session at the meeting, Ballinas said she eventually took Aitken home in then-city manager Jim Vanderpool’s city vehicle. During the approximately 15-minute drive, the claim alleges, Aitken began rummaging through Vanderpool’s vehicle and personal belongings and taking photos with his cell phone.
Ballinas says she objected and told the mayor to delete the photos because Vanderpool’s information was private.
Aitken is also accused of making racist and derogatory comments.
Ballinas alleges that Aitken made several derogatory comments regarding her Mexican heritage and called her a “dirty Mexican.”
In another incident at Disneyland in May 2025, Ballinas said she offered to give Aitken a ride after thinking the mayor was too drunk to get home safely. However, Aitken allegedly declined the offer because she refused to be driven by “a Mexican,” according to the complaint.
Aitken directly denied using the racial slurs attributed to him and said the allegations merited investigation.
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Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has pledged to cooperate with the city’s 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 deserve investigation. I did not use the racial slurs attributed to me and I have always been a champion of the LGBTQ community,” she said in a statement posted last month on Facebook.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Aitken’s office for comment.
Ballinas also described alleged conduct at a team dinner, where she said she observed Aitken becoming “physically affectionate” with another person, including touching and grabbing her, leading the mayor’s husband to remove her from the event.
While walking back to the hotel, Ballinas alleges Aitken became angry and knocked over or pushed a bicycle, damaging its rearview mirror, before later falling in the street.
Aitken then fell into the street, according to the complaint.
When Ballinas told the mayor’s husband that Aitken was not well and needed help, he reportedly responded, “Don’t we all?”
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Anaheim officials are reviewing allegations against Mayor Ashleigh Aitken contained in a government complaint filed by her chief of staff. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The filing says Aitken’s husband then asked Ballinas to make a Venmo payment to compensate the bike’s owner.
Ballinas also makes several allegations regarding questions about his perceived sexual orientation.
She said Aitken took her to Disneyland’s Club 33 for a birthday lunch on June 10, 2026, where the mayor drank alcohol and repeatedly questioned whether Ballinas was a lesbian.
Later, at the 1901 Lounge, Aitken allegedly questioned a Disney actor about whether he was gay or straight and about his love life.
Disney then sent written correspondence to the Club 33 member whose membership was used for the tour, claiming that cast members had reported “rude, insensitive and inappropriate remarks” during the outing.
The government says Ballinas was forced to take leave starting around July 31 and alleges retaliation after she reported or opposed conduct that she said violated laws or workplace rules.
Anaheim said a review of the allegations is underway. Aitken is committed to participating in the process.
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She is currently seeking another term as Anaheim mayor in the Nov. 3 election.
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