Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is currently facing mounting controversy following severe allegations of racial slurs and inappropriate remarks made by her former chief of staff, Berenice Ballinas.
Mediation Request and Allegations
The controversy began when Ballinas’s attorney submitted a 4-page mediation request to the city attorney’s office. According to the filing, during a car ride after a city event, Mayor Aitken allegedly made remarks implying she did not want a dirty Mexican driving her car. Ballinas also claimed that Aitken repeatedly used such derogatory expressions and pressured her to disclose her sexual orientation in public settings like Disneyland and Club 33. Ballinas is currently on leave.
Investigation and City Council Response
In response to reports by Voice of OC and other media outlets, Mayor Aitken welcomed an independent investigation, stated she would cooperate fully, and explicitly denied using any racial slurs. She also emphasized her long-standing support for the LGBTQ community. As the controversy grows, City Council members including Natalie Meeks, Norma Kurtz, Christine Marsh, and Ryan Balius have called for a swift and thorough investigation, alongside demands to publicly release the documents containing the allegations.
