Ashleigh Aitken
Mayor of Anaheim, California
Assumed office
December 6, 2022
Preceded byHarry Sidhu
Personal details
BornFullerton, California
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMichael Penn
Children3
Alma mater

Ashleigh Aitken is an American politician from the state of California. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the 47th mayor of Anaheim, California, serving since December 2022.

Early life and career

Aitken was born at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, California.[1] She graduated from Rosary High School in Fullerton.[2] Aitken earned a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education and history from Boston College. She was a history teacher at North Quincy High School and then worked in the Washington, D.C. office of Dick Gephardt, the Democratic leader of the United States House of Representatives. She then attended the University of Southern California's Gould School of Law.[1]

Aitken practices law for the law firm Aitken Aitken Cohn with her husband, father, and two brothers.[3] Governor Jerry Brown appointed Aitken to the nine-member board of directors for the Orange County Fair in 2012.[4]

Electoral career

Aitken ran for mayor of Anaheim in the 2018 election,[5] and lost to Harry Sidhu, 32.5% to 31.9%.[6] She ran for the third district seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2020, challenging Donald P. Wagner,[7] and lost. She ran for mayor in the 2022 election[8] and won. She was sworn into office on December 6.[9] Aitken is the first female mayor of Anaheim.[2]

Personal life

Aitken met her husband, Michael Penn, on a blind date. They married in 2002[1] and have three daughters.[2]

Electoral history

2018 Anaheim mayoral election[10]
Candidate Votes %
Harry Sidhu 26,422 32.5%
Ashleigh Aitken 25,944 31.9%
Lorri Galloway 12,367 15.2%
Cynthia Ward 7,121 8.7%
H. Fuji Shioura 3,024 3.7%
Robert Williams 2,824 3.5%
Rudy Gaona 2,506 3.1%
Tony D. Martin 1,199 1.5%
Total votes 81,407 100%
2020 Orange County Board of Supervisors election, 3rd district[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donald P. Wagner (incumbent) 80,544 52.3
Democratic Ashleigh Aitken 73,334 47.7
Total votes 153,878 100.0
Republican hold
2022 Anaheim mayoral election[12]
Candidate Votes %
Ashleigh Aitken 28,493 42.85%
Trevor O'Neil 22,948 34.51%
Lorri Galloway 11,282 16.97%
Dick Lopez 3,770 5.67%
Total votes 66,493 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b c admin (January 25, 2019). "How a blind date led Ashleigh and Michael to a wonderful life together - People | Places | Things & Ideas". Kudosnb.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Anaheim's New Mayor On Housing, Disney And The Future Of Angel Stadium". LAist. December 16, 2022.
  3. ^ https://voiceofoc.org/2017/05/reiff-lawyer-ashleigh-aitken-planning-run-for-anaheim-mayor-not-for-da/
  4. ^ Williams, Lauren (February 22, 2012). "Republican, Democrat named to Fair Board". Daily Pilot.
  5. ^ Vo, Thy (September 6, 2017). "Attorney Ashleigh Aitken Announces Run for Anaheim Mayor". Voiceofoc.org. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "Ashleigh Aitken Poised To Jump Into 3rd District Supervisor Race". Anaheim Observer. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  7. ^ staff, Daily Pilot (December 5, 2019). "Political Landscape: O.C. Fair Board member announces bid for spot on Board of Supervisors". Daily Pilot.
  8. ^ tsears (August 17, 2021). "Ashleigh Aitken Announces Campaign for Anaheim Mayor". Voiceofoc.org. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Anaheim's new mayor and council members take their posts". December 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Orange County 2018 General Election November 6, 2018 Official Results for Election". Orange County. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  11. ^ https://www.ocvote.gov/sites/default/files/elections/pri2020/data/sov-web.pdf
  12. ^ "Anaheim, California, Mayor Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
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