{"id":482318,"date":"2026-10-02T03:24:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T03:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/482318\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T03:24:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T03:24:08","slug":"anaheim-mayor-complaints-mount-amid-fresh-misconduct-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/482318\/","title":{"rendered":"Anaheim Mayor complaints mount amid fresh misconduct allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anaheim\u2019s 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<\/a> gone badly off the rails.<\/p>\n

Chief of Staff Berenice Ballinas claims Mayor Ashleigh Aitken repeatedly appeared intoxicated at city functions \u2014 including one City Council meeting <\/a>\u2014 and that on one occasion the mayor allegedly ended up pawing through a former city manager\u2019s car on the ride home.<\/p>\n

Ballinas\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

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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<\/p>\n

Among the allegations, Ballinas says Aitken called her \u201ca dirty Mexican\u201d in front of former City Manager Jim Vanderpool.<\/p>\n

She also claims the mayor described God as \u201cher imaginary friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aitken has previously denied allegations that she made racist or homophobic remarks.<\/p>\n

The drinking allegations include a particularly strange ride home following an April 2025 council meeting. Ballinas claims Aitken appeared \u201cvisibly impaired by alcohol\u201d and needed transportation after the closed session.<\/p>\n

According to Ballinas, she drove the mayor in Vanderpool\u2019s car \u2014 where Aitken allegedly began searching through the vehicle and Vanderpool\u2019s personal belongings, snapping photographs along the way.<\/p>\n

Berenice Ballinas is pictured. Ballinas has accused a California mayor of bad conduct, including calling a top staffer a \u2018dirty Mexican\u2019 and making sexual comments at Disneyland. Linkedin<\/p>\n

Former Anaheim city manager James Vanderpool is pictured. Courtesy of City of Anaheim<\/p>\n

The claim does not reveal what, if anything, Aitken allegedly found because portions are redacted.<\/p>\n

Another alleged night out ended with the mayor\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Ballinas then claims the mayor knocked over a bicycle and damaged its mirror before falling into the street.<\/p>\n

Ballinas says she warned the mayor\u2019s husband that Aitken was not OK.<\/p>\n

His alleged response? \u201cDon\u2019t we all?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is pictured. Aitken, who was elected in November 2022, is the first woman mayor in Anaheim\u2019s 167-year history. City of Anaheim<\/p>\n

And the chief of staff claims the alleged drinking and personal-boundary problems weren\u2019t confined to city functions.<\/p>\n

At a June 10 birthday lunch at Disneyland\u2019s Club 33, Ballinas says Aitken drank for hours, kept drinking afterward and repeatedly questioned her about her sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Ballinas also claims she raised concerns about a nearly $17,000 Qatar trip, police overtime and city employees allegedly helping with Aitken\u2019s prayer breakfast during work hours. The Los Angeles Times\u2019 Daily Pilot reported that the state Fair Political Practices Commission declined to investigate<\/a> the Qatar matter.<\/p>\n

The chief of staff claims she was subsequently retaliated against, including through the withholding of a salary raise.<\/p>\n

The allegations arrive just weeks before Aitken seeks reelection in November against two political newcomers.<\/p>\n

The mayor and council are scheduled to discuss the claim behind closed doors Friday morning.<\/p>\n

Aitken\u2019s attorney, Lawrence Lennemann, declined to discuss the allegations with the Voice of OC<\/a>, saying the claim speaks for itself.<\/p>\n

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