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Ashleigh Aitken is Anaheim’s mayor. Her former chief policy adviser, Berenice Ballinas, filed a government claim alleging harassment, discrimination and alcohol-related workplace incidents, including racial and homophobic remarks. Aitken acknowledged seeking treatment for alcohol use but denied the alleged slurs. Anaheim had retained an independent investigator by Oct. 2, 2026; no findings resolving the allegations had been reported by Oct. 3.
Who is Ashleigh Aitken?
Aitken is the mayor of Anaheim, California. She is seeking a second term in the Nov. 3, 2026, mayoral election, according to the Los Angeles Times. The available reporting does not establish whether the allegations will affect the election.
What does Berenice Ballinas allege?
Ballinas, Aitken’s former chief policy adviser, filed a claim with the city. The allegations below are accounts in Ballinas’s claim, not findings by an investigator or court. The redacted claim released by Anaheim describes incidents and alleged conduct in 2024 and 2025.
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Comments about race, religion and perceived sexual orientation
The claim alleges that Aitken made comments about Ballinas’s race, Catholic faith and perceived sexual orientation. It also alleges that Aitken used a gay slur about former city manager Jim Vanderpool. Aitken has denied the slurs attributed to her.
Alleged alcohol-related incidents and workplace effects
The claim describes what it calls a recurring pattern of alcohol consumption at official events, conferences, community and stakeholder events, and on council-meeting days. It alleges that Ballinas sometimes drove Aitken and handled transportation and personal crises after hours. Ballinas’s claim says she experienced workplace harm and took leave on July 31; the reporting does not establish a medical or legal finding about that account.
Allegations involving a former city manager
The claim also alleges that Aitken accessed Vanderpool’s personal belongings, photographed prescription bottles and later shared information about them. These claims, like the other disputed incidents, have not been established as findings in the reporting available as of Oct. 3, 2026.
What has Aitken admitted, and what does she deny?
Aitken has acknowledged that she had an “unhealthy relationship” with alcohol, checked into the Betty Ford Center for treatment in June 2025, and later relapsed. In a statement quoted by the Los Angeles Times on Oct. 1, she said: “Accepting responsibility for my alcohol consumption does not equate to the more serious allegations that have been made against me.” She added: “I have denied the slurs attributed to me, and I stand by that denial.”
At a Sept. 23 council meeting, Aitken said she was limited in what she could discuss and pledged to participate “readily and truthfully” in any process. In an interview reported by CBS Los Angeles on Oct. 2, she said neither Ballinas nor anyone else in her office had complained to her and that the claim surprised her. She also acknowledged that her drinking at conferences was true.
Is Anaheim investigating the allegations?
Yes. Anaheim released a redacted copy of Ballinas’s claim on Oct. 1. The city said the redactions protected personnel, medical, third-party privacy and attorney-client information. By Oct. 2, the city had retained an independent investigator. City spokesperson Mike Lyster described the goal as “a comprehensive, impartial review that balances expediency with due process,” according to MyNewsLA.
The investigation was expected to take months. As of Oct. 3, 2026, the coverage cited here had not reported a conclusion, investigator’s findings or court ruling resolving the disputed allegations. Ballinas’s attorney, Corey Glave, told MyNewsLA: “Unlike the city of Anaheim we choose not to litigate in the media.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens after a government claim is filed?
A government claim is a required step before suing a public agency, according to MyNewsLA. That outlet reports the city has 45 days from filing to respond. The filing and response process does not determine whether the allegations are true; that question remains unresolved in the reporting available as of Oct. 3.
Quick Recap
How to read updates about the case
- Separate allegation from finding: Details in Ballinas’s claim should remain attributed to her claim unless an independent investigation, court or other established record substantiates them.
- Distinguish admission from denial: Aitken acknowledged alcohol-related treatment and conference drinking; she denied the alleged slurs. Neither statement resolves the other disputed claims.
- Check whether a report is independent: Multiple stories may be recounting the same filing rather than providing separate corroboration.
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