A 25-page claim filed against the City of Anaheim and Mayor Ashleigh Aitken by her former chief of staff, Berenice Ballinas, details a series of alleged behaviors by the Mayor, ranging from public intoxication to intrusive questioning about personal matters.
The claim describes an incident at an annual gala in October 2024 at Irvine's Hyatt Regency, where an unnamed Orange County Supervisor reportedly expressed alarm about the Mayor's "visibly intoxicated and increasingly belligerent" conduct. The Supervisor allegedly asked Ballinas to intervene. The claim further states that during this event, the Mayor, while inebriated, refused to let either Ballinas or then-City Manager James Vanderpool drive her home, allegedly stating she did not want her car "driven by a Dirty Mexican or a Faggot Man!" Ballinas and Vanderpool reportedly discussed this later, with Vanderpool stating he would address it. The Mayor later denied making these statements, possibly due to intoxication. A reporter familiar with a four-page settlement letter also noted the alleged statement.
The claim emphasizes the Mayor's alleged "fixation on whether or not people are gay," describing it as a "dark fascination." Ballinas reported being "mortified" when the Mayor allegedly questioned her friends about their sexuality. According to the claim, another friend of Ballinas reportedly had her Club 33 membership suspended by Disney after inviting the Mayor, who "kept bugging a waiter over whether he was gay." For three and a half years, the Mayor allegedly "kept questioning Berenice over whether SHE was gay," despite Ballinas's complaints.
An insider tipster reportedly noted that "Everyone at city hall has observed her behavior," pointing to a "culture of fear and retaliation in our City of Kindness." The claim also references witnesses whose testimony Ballinas welcomes.
At a Cal Cities Conference the following November, the Mayor's "intoxication and behavior became increasingly uncomfortable for the Anaheim delegation," according to the claim. Ballinas and others reportedly attempted to "manage or respond to the Mayor’s conduct." Councilman Steve Faessel and his wife Susan, as well as the Mayor's husband Michael Penn, were present. Ballinas reportedly reported the behavior to Assistant City Manager Greg Garcia, who advised her that she "has to get used to elected officials" and that a former Councilmember’s conduct was "way worse." Garcia's response reportedly implied that city employees were expected to tolerate inappropriate conduct from elected officials.
On April 22 of last year, the Mayor allegedly appeared at a Council closed session "too drunk to stay for the rest of the meeting." Video evidence reportedly shows Mayor Pro-Tem Natalie Meeks excusing the Mayor for being "ill" and subsequently running the meeting. Mayor Pro-Tem Meeks has since reportedly called for an investigation and endorsed a mayoral candidate. Ballinas drove the Mayor home in Vanderpool's city car that evening.
During this drive, the Mayor allegedly "spent that 15-minute ride searching thru Jim’s stuff" in Vanderpool's car. Ballinas reportedly tried to stop the Mayor, who found items described as "PAY DIRT" in the city-released claim. A reporter familiar with the situation stated these items were prescription drugs. The Mayor allegedly photographed the bottles with her phone, despite Ballinas's attempts to get her to delete the photos, citing a violation of privacy. The Mayor reportedly asked Ballinas to "confront" Jim about the drugs, which Ballinas refused. The Mayor allegedly spoke about Jim's drugs later that month.
At the SCAG (SC Association of Governments) conference in Palm Springs in April and May of last year, the Mayor allegedly "appeared 'visibly intoxicated'" and was "stumbling and spilling her drink," leading attendees to expect Ballinas to intervene. The Mayor allegedly expressed "grave concern" about City Manager Vanderpool's behavior on the dance floor, specifically that he was "dancing in far too homosexual a manner."
