The claim also alleges the Qatar Embassy paid $16,779 in travel for the mayor’s husband. Aitken denies using the slur.
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken’s top policy aide alleges the mayor called her a “dirty Mexican,” mocked her Catholic faith, repeatedly pressed her to admit she was a lesbian and turned her into an after-hours “handler” for drinking episodes at official events, according to a legal claim the city released Thursday.
The 25-page claim, filed by Berenice Ballinas and received by the city Sept. 22, is the required first step before suing a public agency, and none of its allegations have been proven. Portions were redacted to protect personnel, medical and third-party information, according to the city. City spokesman Mike Lyster said the city is looking to hire an “independent, experienced investigator” to review the allegations “over the next few months,” City News Service reported.
Aitken has denied the central allegation. “These allegations are extremely serious, and they deserve to be investigated. I did not use the racial slur attributed to me, and I have always been a champion of the LGBTQ community,” the mayor wrote in a Facebook statement last week.
Ballinas has served as Aitken’s chief policy adviser since Dec. 7, 2022. The claim says she was forced to take a leave of absence beginning on or about July 31 and alleges harassment, discrimination and retaliation based on her perceived sexual orientation, race, religion and disability. It also alleges whistleblower retaliation under California Labor Code section 1102.5. The allegations first surfaced in a confidential letter reported by TimesOC last month.
The most explosive allegation stems from the Orange County Taxpayers Association’s Roses, Radishes and the Royalty Award Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Irvine on Oct. 23, 2024. After the group moved to a hotel bar, the claim alleges, Aitken said she did not want Ballinas or then-City Manager Jim Vanderpool to drive her vehicle because she did not want a “dirty Mexican” and a “faggot man” driving her car. When Ballinas later confronted her, the mayor denied making the remarks, according to the claim.
At a Disneyland 70th anniversary event in May 2025, Ballinas offered to drive the mayor home because she believed Aitken had been drinking. The claim alleges the mayor responded, in substance, that she was not going to have “a Mexican” drive her.
Ballinas, a practicing Catholic, also alleges that in fall 2024 Aitken looked at the cross she was wearing and referred to God as her “imaginary friend.”
The claim says Aitken repeatedly questioned whether Ballinas was a lesbian, often in front of colleagues and friends, and kept returning to the subject after Ballinas told her she is not and asked that it be dropped. At Angels Opening Day in April 2025, Aitken and Vanderpool allegedly questioned Ballinas’ openly lesbian friend about Ballinas’ sexuality, with the mayor repeatedly referring to the friend as Ballinas’ “girlfriend.”
The questioning allegedly resumed June 10 during a birthday lunch at Disneyland’s members-only Club 33, where the mayor allegedly questioned Ballinas about her dating history. Later at the 1901 Lounge in Disney California Adventure, the claim says, the mayor pressed a Cast Member about whether he was gay or straight. Disney sent a letter June 22 to the Club 33 member who hosted the outing, citing “rude, insensitive, and inappropriate remarks” and calling mistreatment of a Cast Member an “egregious violation.” The membership was placed on hold, and Aitken asserted Disney’s action was politically motivated, according to the claim.
Much of the claim centers on alcohol. Ballinas alleges she was expected to monitor the mayor at conferences, galas and council meeting days, arrange rides and handle the fallout, all without any authority to stop her.
She alleges Aitken arrived at the April 22, 2025, City Council meeting appearing “visibly impaired by alcohol” and participated in closed session. Ballinas says she borrowed Vanderpool’s city vehicle to drive the mayor home, and that Aitken searched through his personal belongings during the ride and photographed what she found.
At the Disneyland anniversary event, a Disney representative allegedly told Ballinas the mayor should stop drinking. Ballinas says she declined an ABC7 interview on Aitken’s behalf, only for the mayor to overrule her and do the interview anyway, during which her speech “appeared slurred,” the claim states.
During the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Tampa, Florida, in June 2025, the mayor’s husband allegedly called Ballinas around 2 or 3 a.m. Pacific time and told her to locate the mayor, pack her belongings and get her home to California. The claim says the mayor was then absent for an extended period of time.
At a Southern California Association of Governments conference in Palm Springs, a city employee told Ballinas the mayor asked him to retrieve Vanderpool from the dance floor and agreed when the employee asked if she meant Vanderpool was “being too gay.” When he declined, the employee said, Aitken called him a “pussy” and said, “Typical man, a woman has to do your job.”
After one Team Anaheim dinner, the claim says, the mayor knocked over a bicycle and later fell in the street. When Ballinas told the mayor’s husband she needed help, he allegedly responded, “Don’t we all?”
Ballinas says she reported the conduct repeatedly and was brushed off. After the gala, Vanderpool allegedly told her, “We can’t do anything; she’s an elected.” Then-Assistant City Manager Greg Garcia, now the interim city manager, allegedly told her, “You know how the Mayor is; just don’t let it get to you.”
Ballinas also says she was caught in a deepening feud between Aitken and Vanderpool. After the mayor directed her to look into the hiring of Police Chief Manny Cid, Vanderpool allegedly called Ballinas “Maleficent” in front of others at Disneyland’s Candlelight celebration in December 2025. When she reported it, Garcia allegedly said, “You know how Jim is. He didn’t mean it.”
The claim also accuses the mayor of ethical lapses. Ballinas says the Qatar Embassy invited Aitken and a guest to the country in May 2025, and that she advised the mayor’s husband’s expenses had to be paid separately. The embassy confirmed it paid roughly $16,779.34 in expenses attributed to him, according to the claim.
After Ballinas raised the matter with city Ethics Officer Artin Berjikly, the mayor allegedly said those inquiring could “bite my ass.” When a constituent later filed a public records request, Aitken allegedly told Ballinas whether she reimbursed Qatar was “none of the City’s business.” Ballinas says she believes the expenses were never repaid.
The claim contrasts that with Aitken’s public statements after Vanderpool resigned in February amid scrutiny over an undisclosed 2020 Lake Havasu trip with Anaheim Chamber of Commerce officials. The mayor said at the time, “I try to hold myself to a standard that is even higher than those of state law requirements.”
Anaheim is still recovering from a corruption scandal that sent former Mayor Harry Sidhu to federal prison over the failed Angel Stadium sale.
Ballinas further alleges the mayor directed her to dig into Anaheim Police Department overtime discrepancies, then dropped the matter over concern for the Anaheim Police Association’s political endorsement, the same endorsement its PAC has now suspended. She says she was also tasked with examining whether Cid’s selection was predetermined, after Anaheim Police Association President Jose Duran allegedly told people Cid had the job before the city announced a finalist. And she says city staff worked the mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on taxpayer time.
Since her leave began, Ballinas alleges, the city removed her profile from its website, told stakeholders the mayor’s office was going through a “transition,” and withheld a merit raise approved July 28. She also accuses City Attorney Robert Fabela of sharing her confidential correspondence, including medical information, with the mayor. The claim names Aitken, Fabela, Vanderpool and Human Resources Director Linda Andal as people who caused her injury.
The allegations have already carried a political cost. The Anaheim Police Association’s political action committee voted Tuesday to suspend its endorsement of Aitken and asked her to remove it from her campaign website until the allegations are investigated. The association represents 400 Anaheim police officers.
“Our endorsement carries significant responsibility. If allegations of this nature had been pending when Mayor Aitken sought our endorsement, we would have likely waited for the investigation to be completed before making a decision. Suspending our endorsement now is consistent with that approach,” PAC Chair Cesar Aguilar said in a Sept. 29 news release. Aguilar also said the mayor is entitled to due process and a fair investigation before conclusions are reached.
“I’m disappointed in the union but will continue my unwavering support for our officers and our chief,” Aitken said in a text message to Voice of OC. “This says a lot about the PAC leadership, and does not reflect the professionalism of our police department at large.”
The fallout extends beyond the police union. Councilwoman Natalie Meeks, who is mentioned in the claim, called for an investigation last week. Councilwoman Norma Campos Kurtz said she would seek the mayor’s resignation if the allegations are substantiated. Council members are set to discuss the claim in closed session Friday morning.
Aitken has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the claim, City News Service reported. Vanderpool could not be reached.
“Unlike the city of Anaheim we choose not to litigate in the media,” said Ballinas’ attorney, Corey Glave. “We’ll wait to see how city leadership wants to move forward.”
The city has 45 days to respond. If it rejects the claim, Ballinas can file suit in Orange County Superior Court.
