Anaheim mayor vows to cooperate with city review of allegations that she used a racist term to describe her aide
- Share via
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken used Tuesday’s council meeting to address allegations that she called her chief of staff a racial slur and asked inappropriate questions about her sexuality.
“While I hope that you understand that I am limited in what I can say, I do humbly ask people to take a moment and look at my record, the initiatives that I have championed, the communities that I have stood beside, my words and, most importantly, the values that I have demonstrated through my actions,” Aitken said.
The mayor, a Democrat in a majority-Latino city, repeated her statement in Spanish.
A confidential letter sent to city officials on Sept. 11 detailed the allegations made by Berenice Ballinas, who is Latina.
Ballinas’s attorney Lawrence Lennemann alleged in the letter seeking a mediated settlement that Aitken said she did “not want her car driven by a dirty Mexican” as his client drove the mayor home from city functions when she had been drinking alcohol. The letter alleges the mayor used the term more than once.
A confidential letter sent to Anaheim officials alleges that the city’s mayor, Ashleigh Aitken, repeatedly called Berenice Ballinas, her chief-of-staff, a derogatory term.
Councilmember Natalie Meeks, a Republican who represents Anaheim Hills, called for an internal investigation.
“We owe it to the community to take accusations like this seriously and address them,” she said. “If they are found to be true, then I would join with the community in asking for the mayor’s resignation. The situation deserves an investigation, and I would like to ask staff to expedite that as quickly as possible so that it is not a long-term distraction.”
The three Latinos on the council, all Democrats, did not address the matter.
Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster confirmed Wednesday that a “review is underway in the initial stages.”
Aitken, who is seeking reelection in November, pledged to “readily and truthfully” participate in any process related to the allegations.
The letter also alleged that, in June, Aitken questioned Ballinas about her perceived sexual orientation in front of others over lunch and drinks at Disneyland and California Adventure venues exclusive to members of the private Club 33.
Several residents spoke up at the meeting to criticize the mayor, some calling for her to step down, others for an investigation.
“I can’t help but wonder how racism and discrimination have impacted decisions that you have made up on that dais,” said resident Penelope Lopez. “Words carry weight, Mayor. Answer to your community’s demands and do not hide from consequences.”
Before the meeting, members of Chispa, a Santa Ana-based nonprofit focused on young progressive Latino politics, called on every Anaheim councilmember to condemn the alleged remarks.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection paused plans for a maritime surveillance tower in San Clemente. Some elected officials want to see it permanently scrapped.
Responses to the allegations have also come from outside of Anaheim City Hall and spilled over into a local state Assembly race.
Santa Ana Councilmember Jessie Lopez, who is running for the 68th Assembly District, issued a statement immediately following TimesOC’s initial report about the allegations.
“The report about these racist and homophobic comments (is) deeply concerning,” she said. “I want to express my full support to Berenice Ballinas for coming forward. It takes courage as a young Latina in politics to speak truth to power.”
Lopez called for an independent investigation.
Santa Ana Councilmember David Peñaloza, her opponent in the Assembly race, said he was “disheartened” and “disappointed.”
“I know Ballinas as a member of our Santa Ana community, and as a member of our city’s Personnel Board,” he said. “Because this involves an ongoing personnel matter, the allegations deserve a thorough and independent investigation by a third party that respects everyone involved and establishes the facts.”
The Democratic Party of Orange County, which has endorsed Aitken for reelection, echoed support for a “full, fair, and independent” investigation.
“If substantiated, the reported remarks and conduct would be inexcusable,” party Chair Florice Hoffman said in a prepared statement. “Racist, denigrating, or otherwise offensive treatment has no place in our party or in public service.”
Ballinas, according to the letter from her attorney, is on leave from City Hall for health-related reasons.