Ashleigh Aitken

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Ashleigh Aitken
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken.jpg
47th Mayor of Anaheim
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 6, 2022

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.

Contents

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] In 2012 California Governor Jerry Brown appointed Aitken to the nine-member board of directors for the Orange County Fair. [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]
CandidateVotes %
Harry Sidhu 26,42232.5%
Ashleigh Aitken25,94431.9%
Lorri Galloway12,36715.2%
Cynthia Ward7,1218.7%
H. Fuji Shioura3,0243.7%
Robert Williams2,8243.5%
Rudy Gaona2,5063.1%
Tony D. Martin1,1991.5%
Total votes81,407 100%
2020 Orange County Board of Supervisors election, 3rd district [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Donald P. Wagner (incumbent) 80,544 52.3
Democratic Ashleigh Aitken73,33447.7
Total votes153,878 100.0
Republican hold
2022 Anaheim mayoral election [12]
CandidateVotes %
Ashleigh Aitken28,49342.85%
Trevor O'Neil22,94834.51%
Lorri Galloway11,28216.97%
Dick Lopez3,7705.67%
Total votes66,493 100.00%

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 "Anaheim's New Mayor On Housing, Disney And The Future Of Angel Stadium". LAist. December 16, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Reiff: Lawyer Ashleigh Aitken Planning Run for Anaheim Mayor (Not for DA)". May 25, 2017.
  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. November 16, 2019. 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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