California mayor accused of running booze-soaked city hall, showing up drunk, harassing staff and hurling slurs (Anaheim)

NY Post ^ | 10/01/26 | Daniel Farr

[Libloather]

Anaheim’s 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 gone badly off the rails.

Chief of Staff Berenice Ballinas claims Mayor Ashleigh Aitken repeatedly appeared intoxicated at city functions — including one City Council meeting — and that on one occasion the mayor allegedly ended up pawing through a former city manager’s car on the ride home.

Ballinas’ 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.

Among the allegations, Ballinas says Aitken called her “a dirty Mexican” in front of former City Manager Jim Vanderpool.

She also claims the mayor described God as “her imaginary friend.”

Aitken has previously denied allegations that she made racist or homophobic remarks.

The drinking allegations include a particularly strange ride home following an April 2025 council meeting. Ballinas claims Aitken appeared “visibly impaired by alcohol” and needed transportation after the closed session.

According to Ballinas, she drove the mayor in Vanderpool’s car — where Aitken allegedly began searching through the vehicle and Vanderpool’s personal belongings, snapping photographs along the way.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Health/Medicine; History
KEYWORDS: alreadyposted; anaheim; ashleighaitken; bereniceballinas; california; drunk; harassment; hoax; mayor; slurs; smear

[Libloather]

Only experts should have access to the box wine.

[ClearCase_guy]

Wow! I bet the voters will make sure to elect a different Democrat next time!

[Kudsman]

Just AWFUL.

[Blueflag]

When she was 16 and a California girl, she was probably cute and fun.

Then she became ... this.

Sad.

[Resolute Conservative]

Bet she was something before electricity...

[Hoboto]

Bet she was something before electricity...

Nice Caddyshack reference!

I miss Rodney.

[equaviator]

Maybe they’ll get a movie out of it.

[Noumenon]

They don’t call it the city clowncil for nothing.

[dfwgator]

I miss Rodney.

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We all do.

[Sam Clements]

Her Dad is democrat hack and political hatchet man Wylie Aitkin. No surprise here.

[Sam Clements]

I am an Anaheim voter. Check out candidate Alfredo Rodriguez. From what I can tell so far he looks promising.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Ballinas says that during a Team Anaheim dinner, Aitken became physically affectionate with a redacted person before her husband removed her from the gathering. Ballinas then claims the mayor knocked over a bicycle and damaged its mirror before falling into the street.

I think every town has one of these - in the old days, the term was "drunken slut." I guess that's not politically correct anymore.

[BenLurkin]

It’s always them.

[ridesthemiles]

I WONDER IF DISNEYLAND IS HAPPY WITH HER?

[markman46]

The team dinner was at Disneyland exclusive members only restaurant too

[bankwalker]

she looks fun ...

[gundog]

I think the politically correct term for “drunken slut” is...or rather was,”Madam Vice President.”