Anaheim’s mayor is facing an extraordinary workplace complaint from her own chief of staff that paints a picture of booze, alleged harassment and political-business-as-usual gone badly off the rails.
Chief of Staff Berenice Ballinas claims Mayor Ashleigh Aitken repeatedly appeared intoxicated at city functions — including one City Council meeting — and that on one occasion the mayor allegedly ended up pawing through a former city manager’s car on the ride home.
Ballinas’ 25-page claim, released by the city Thursday, also accuses Aitken of making crude comments about her sexuality and using a racial slur against her.
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Mayor Ashleigh E. Aitken attends the first Anaheim City Council meeting following the release of the JL Group report in Anaheim, California, on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. The meeting followed the release of the Angel Stadium report. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Among the allegations, Ballinas says Aitken called her “a dirty Mexican” in front of former City Manager Jim Vanderpool.
She also claims the mayor described God as “her imaginary friend.”
Aitken has previously denied allegations that she made racist or homophobic remarks.
The drinking allegations include a particularly strange ride home following an April 2025 council meeting. Ballinas claims Aitken appeared “visibly impaired by alcohol” and needed transportation after the closed session.
According to Ballinas, she drove the mayor in Vanderpool’s car — where Aitken allegedly began searching through the vehicle and Vanderpool’s personal belongings, snapping photographs along the way.
Berenice Ballinas is pictured. Ballinas has accused a California mayor of bad conduct, including calling a top staffer a ‘dirty Mexican’ and making sexual comments at Disneyland. Linkedin
Former Anaheim city manager James Vanderpool is pictured. Courtesy of City of Anaheim
The claim does not reveal what, if anything, Aitken allegedly found because portions are redacted.
Another alleged night out ended with the mayor’s husband intervening. Ballinas says that during a Team Anaheim dinner, Aitken became physically affectionate with a redacted person before her husband removed her from the gathering.
Ballinas then claims the mayor knocked over a bicycle and damaged its mirror before falling into the street.
Ballinas says she warned the mayor’s husband that Aitken was not OK.
His alleged response? “Don’t we all?”
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Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is pictured. Aitken, who was elected in November 2022, is the first woman mayor in Anaheim’s 167-year history. City of Anaheim
And the chief of staff claims the alleged drinking and personal-boundary problems weren’t confined to city functions.
At a June 10 birthday lunch at Disneyland’s Club 33, Ballinas says Aitken drank for hours, kept drinking afterward and repeatedly questioned her about her sexual orientation.
Later, at the 1901 Lounge in Disney California Adventure, Ballinas alleges the mayor turned similar questions toward a Disney Cast Member, including whether he was gay or straight and details about his dating life.
Councilmember Norma Campos Kurtz attends the first Anaheim City Council meeting following the release of the JL Group report in Anaheim, California, on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Ballinas also claims she raised concerns about a nearly $17,000 Qatar trip, police overtime and city employees allegedly helping with Aitken’s prayer breakfast during work hours. The Los Angeles Times’ Daily Pilot reported that the state Fair Political Practices Commission declined to investigate the Qatar matter.
The chief of staff claims she was subsequently retaliated against, including through the withholding of a salary raise.
The allegations arrive just weeks before Aitken seeks reelection in November against two political newcomers.
The mayor and council are scheduled to discuss the claim behind closed doors Friday morning.
Aitken’s attorney, Lawrence Lennemann, declined to discuss the allegations with the Voice of OC, saying the claim speaks for itself.