Anaheim, California Mayor Responds to Allegation She Called Staffer a ‘Dirty Mexican’

After being accused of making inappropriate comments about her chief of staff’s race and sexuality, the mayor of Anaheim, California has issued a response.

In a September 11 letter sent by her attorney to City Hall, Berenice Ballinas alleged that Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken “exclaimed that she did ‘not want her car driven by a dirty Mexican'” on one occasion, and also “questioned her chief of staff’s sexuality in front of other people.” The LA Times broke the news of the letter on September 21.

On Thursday, Aitken, 50, posted a statement to her Facebook page. “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,” wrote the mayor, a Democrat who is up for reelection next month.

“Berenice remains a City employee, and because this involves an ongoing personnel matter, there are strict limits on what I can responsibly discuss publicly,” continued the statement, before alluding to a medical emergency Ballinas recently suffered.

“I will not violate her privacy or attack an employee who has recently experienced a serious medical issue simply to defend myself in the press. I welcome an investigation and will cooperate truthfully, and I believe the facts should determine what happened.”

The statement concluded by saying, “I care about Berenice and sincerely wish her well in her recovery. I also believe that I am entitled to have these extraordinarily serious allegations evaluated on the evidence.”

The letter also alleged that Aitken “made comments” about a Disneyland worker’s “perceived sexual orientation and ethnicity” and that former Anaheim city manager Jim Vanderpool (who resigned amid a corruption scandal earlier this year) joined in the harassment with Aitken.

“Beginning in or about 2023 … Mayor Aitken and Mr. Vanderpool repeatedly and habitually made unwelcome comments regarding Ms. Ballinas’ perceived sexuality, including myriad statements and insinuations that she is a lesbian, directly referring to her as a lesbian, pressuring her to admit that she was a lesbian, questioning of her romantic relationships, and comments directed at her guests and companions,” read the letter in part.

The New York Post reported that angry residents called for Aitken’s resignation at a recent City Council meeting.