What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Ashleigh Aitken is Anaheim’s mayor and is seeking a second term. Her former chief policy adviser, Berenice Ballinas, filed a government claim accusing her of harassment, retaliation and discrimination, including alleged racial, homophobic and religiously bigoted remarks. Aitken has acknowledged seeking treatment for alcohol use but denied the alleged slurs. Anaheim had retained an independent investigator by Oct. 2, 2026; no reported finding had resolved the disputed allegations by then.
What is Ashleigh Aitken accused of?
Ballinas’s 25-page government claim alleges that Aitken made remarks about Ballinas’s race, Catholic faith and perceived sexual orientation. It also alleges that Aitken used a gay slur about former Anaheim City Manager Jim Vanderpool, accessed his personal belongings, photographed prescription bottles and later shared information about them. These are claims Ballinas made in her filing, not findings by an investigator or court. MyNewsLA’s account of the released claim and the Los Angeles Times’ report describe the allegations.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Allegations about drinking and workplace harm
The claim describes alcohol consumption at official events, conferences, community and stakeholder events, and on days with City Council meetings. Ballinas says she sometimes drove Aitken and took on an after-hours “handler” role involving transportation and personal crises. The filing also alleges workplace harm and says Ballinas took leave on July 31. Those descriptions come from the claim; they do not establish a medical or legal finding about Aitken or prove the alleged effects on Ballinas.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The claim places examples in 2024 and 2025, including an October 2024 gala and Disneyland-related events in 2025. Repetition of an allegation across news stories does not necessarily mean it has been independently corroborated: multiple reports may be describing the same filing.
What has Aitken said?
Aitken said she had an “unhealthy relationship” with alcohol, checked into the Betty Ford Center for treatment in June 2025, and later relapsed. She has distinguished that admission from the other accusations, saying: “Accepting responsibility for my alcohol consumption does not equate to the more serious allegations that have been made against me.” She also said, “I have denied the slurs attributed to me, and I stand by that denial.” The Los Angeles Times quoted those statements in its Oct. 1 report.
At a Sept. 23, 2026, City Council meeting, Aitken said she was limited in what she could discuss and asked residents to consider her record, initiatives and values. She pledged to take part “readily and truthfully” in any process, according to the Los Angeles Times’ report on the meeting. In a CBS Los Angeles interview reported 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. CBS Los Angeles reported the interview.
Is Anaheim investigating the claim?
Anaheim released a redacted copy of the claim on Oct. 1, 2026. The city said the redactions protected personnel, medical, third-party privacy and attorney-client information. By the following day, reports said the city had retained an independent investigator. The inquiry was expected to take months, and no conclusion had been reported as of Oct. 2. The city spokesperson said the goal was “a comprehensive, impartial review that balances expediency with due process,” as quoted by MyNewsLA.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What happens after a government claim is filed?
A government claim is a procedural step required before suing a public agency; filing one does not itself prove the allegations. MyNewsLA reported that Anaheim has 45 days from filing to respond to Ballinas’s claim. That response deadline is a process detail, not a decision on whether the accusations are true. Ballinas’s attorney, Corey Glave, declined to litigate the matter in the media, telling MyNewsLA: “Unlike the city of Anaheim we choose not to litigate in the media.”
Rank #3
What is known about the election?
Aitken is seeking a second term in the mayoral election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. The available reports do not establish what effect, if any, the allegations will have on the election.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
