Ashleigh Aitken

Mayor, City of Anaheim

Director Ashleigh Aitken was elected as the 48th mayor of Anaheim in November 2022. She is the first woman mayor in Anaheim’s 167-year history, representing all Anaheim residents, neighborhoods, and businesses on the City Council. Orange County's City Selection Committee selected Aitken as a city council representative to the OCTA Board of Directors in November 2023.

As the Mayor of Orange County’s largest city, Aitken is focused on increased public transparency, enhancing public safety, expanding affordable housing and growing the economy by supporting visitor industry and streamlining processes to expand and attract new industries.

Aitken previously served two terms on the Anaheim Community Services Board including as Chairwoman from 2011-2013.

A trial lawyer for more than 20 years, Aitken is Of Counsel at Santa Ana-based Aitken Aitken Cohn, a boutique personal injury firm. She is a former federal prosecutor in the Central District of California. She prosecuted armed bank robbery, narcotics, mail and wire fraud, child pornography, firearms and other federal law violations.

In 2015, Director Aitken was elected President of the Orange County Bar Association, where she established a veterans committee to expand free legal support for veterans and military families.

From 2012 to January 2023, Aitken served on the Board of Directors of the OC Fair & Events Center, including as Chairwoman in 2015. Directors are appointed by the governor of California and set policy for the annual OC Fair and year-round events at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds.

A lifelong Anaheim resident, Aitken volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader and serves on the board of Santa Ana-based WISEplace, a shelter for homeless women. She previously served on the board of Anaheim-based Caterina’s Club, Chef Bruno Serato’s nonprofit to feed and help needy families.

Aitken holds a bachelor’s in secondary education and history from Boston College, where she was an All-American rugby player. She has her law degree from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law.

Director Ashleigh Aitken lives in Anaheim with her husband Michael, the couple’s three children and family pets.