Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken publicly disclosed her struggle with alcohol and a past stay at a rehabilitation center, simultaneously denying grave allegations of racist slurs and inappropriate conduct leveled against her by her chief of staff, Berenice Ballinas. The mayor's admission came via an Instagram post on Friday morning, minutes after city council members emerged from a special closed-door meeting convened to discuss a claim filed by Ballinas against the city.
Mayor Aitken stated that in June 2025, she departed a conference prematurely to check herself into the Betty Ford Center, recognizing an “unhealthy relationship with alcohol” and a need for help managing stress. While accepting responsibility for her alcohol consumption, Aitken firmly denied the more serious allegations made against her, including those concerning racist slurs. She also noted a setback in her recovery in June 2026, when she consumed alcohol at a birthday event, recommitting to her sobriety journey.
Ballinas's claim, which became public yesterday, alleges that the mayor drank heavily at government functions, directed racist slurs at Ballinas, questioned her sexuality, and mocked her faith. Specifically, the claim details an incident on June 10, 2026, at Ballinas's birthday celebration at Disneyland’s Club 33. According to the claim, the Mayor began consuming alcoholic beverages during lunch and repeatedly questioned Ballinas about her sexual orientation. The claim further states that after a three-hour lunch, the Mayor insisted on continuing to drink. Later, Ballinas alleges they met a friend at the 1901 Lounge in Disney California Adventure, where Aitken reportedly questioned a Disney Cast Member about their sexuality. Ballinas claimed her friend's Club 33 membership was subsequently placed on hold due to Aitken's behavior.
The special closed-door city council meeting, which Mayor Aitken did not attend, concluded with city officials reporting no reportable action taken. The allegations in Ballinas's claim extend beyond the Mayor, asserting that former City Manager Jim Vanderpool also commented on Ballinas's perceived sexuality. Ballinas further alleges that Aitken referred to Vanderpool as a “faggot man” and searched his car. The claim also portrays a culture of "apathetic leadership" within city hall, where Ballinas's concerns were allegedly dismissed and downplayed. Additionally, Ballinas's claim includes allegations of illegal conduct concerning who paid for the Mayor's husband's plane ticket to Qatar and states that she experienced retaliation, including a withheld salary raise, for reporting her concerns.
At the Friday morning city council meeting, several residents voiced their condemnation of city leadership, suggesting that Ballinas's concerns were minimized and that an investigation was only initiated after the scandal became public. Resident Stephanie Mercadante questioned, "How dare this city act as though they just learned there was a problem." She emphasized that the claim indicates city leadership and senior officials were aware of incidents and concerns, yet allegedly failed to protect the employee, instead minimizing and normalizing the situation.
Councilman Carlos Leon broke his silence on Friday, stating in an Instagram post that the allegations against the mayor are serious and merit a fair investigation. He affirmed his belief in due process and allowing facts to guide conclusions, confirming that an independent investigator has been retained to review the allegations. Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava also commented a little before 4 p.m. Friday, expressing deep concern over the accusations and supporting an independent investigation. In her own Instagram post, she wrote, "If allegations are true, both of these promises were broken," referring to residents counting on leaders to serve with honor and city employees expecting dignity at work.
City spokesman Mike Lyster confirmed via email on Thursday that an independent investigation into the allegations is anticipated to unfold over the next few months. Mayor Aitken, in her Instagram post, pledged her cooperation with the investigation, stating, "Where I made mistakes, I will own them. As to other allegations, I trust the evidence will bear out the truth." She expressed regret for not believing her community would support her, stating she should have given people the chance to offer wisdom and support.
Ballinas's claim also details an incident in June 2025 during a conference in Tampa, where Aitken's husband allegedly called Ballinas in the middle of the night to assist with Aitken's departure. Ballinas claimed she found Aitken in an "impaired condition" and helped her pack and prepare for her return to California. Following this incident, Aitken was reportedly absent for an extended period, during which Ballinas was tasked with managing inquiries about the Mayor’s whereabouts and responsibilities. The mayor concluded her Instagram post by apologizing to anyone burdened by her drinking, particularly her family, acknowledging that her recovery is not a linear process. This controversy surfaces as Mayor Aitken is campaigning for reelection next month against two other candidates.
