Anaheim City Manager retains post despite controversy over undisclosed trip

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anaheim City Manager Jim Vanderpool will remain in his position following a Jan. 27 closed-door City Council meeting regarding his failure to disclose a 2020 trip funded by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Ashleigh Aitken requested the session to address the Lake Havasu trip, which included former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ament. Ament was a key figure in a wide-reaching FBI investigation into the attempted sale of Angel Stadium and political corruption at City Hall.

Vanderpool told officials he did not know the Chamber paid for his lodging, valued at approximately $190. He claimed his personal spending on food and beverages offset any disclosure requirements and noted he has not participated in any subsequent trips.

Councilmembers Natalie Rubalcava and Ryan Balius voiced support for Vanderpool during the meeting, citing his commitment to the city and the stability he has provided.

While Vanderpool retained his post, Aitken said she intends to request a public report on the allegations to ensure "accountability."

The retention of City Manager Jim Vanderpool marks less a full exoneration and more a stark illustration of the deep ideological fractures currently paralyzing the Anaheim City Council. Supported by a faction prioritizing administrative continuity over total reform, the decision to keep Vanderpool in office underscores a desperate push for "stability" following years of institutional volatility.

Hired in 2020 amidst the fallout of the contentious Angel Stadium land deal, Vanderpool was originally positioned as a technocratic fixer capable of steadying the city’s bureaucracy. However, the current controversy extends far beyond a simple failure to disclose travel expenses; it serves as a critical litmus test for Anaheim’s political culture in the wake of a sprawling FBI corruption investigation that forced the resignation of former Mayor Harry Sidhu. Vanderpool’s proximity—even if indirect—to central figures in that scandal continues to cast a long shadow over the city’s efforts to rebuild public trust.

The pushback from Mayor Ashleigh Aitken, who has demanded a comprehensive public report despite the council’s vote, suggests that the internal power struggle is far from settled. The city is currently caught between two competing governance models: one that seeks to move past the scandals of the previous administration through operational normalcy, and another that maintains true stability is impossible without a radical commitment to transparency and accountability.

The ultimate resolution of this standoff will determine whether Anaheim can successfully reform its political infrastructure or if it remains structurally vulnerable to the same patterns of influence that triggered federal intervention.

For the significant Vietnamese-American population in Anaheim and across Orange County, the ongoing instability at City Hall has a direct and tangible impact. The community is a cornerstone of the local economy, with countless entrepreneurs running phở restaurants, nail salons, and other small businesses that rely on a transparent municipal government for everything from licensing and zoning to city contracts.

Years of high-profile corruption scandals have already strained public trust, and these latest developments leave many worried that a "pay-to-play" culture remains alive and well. Vietnamese voters in the region are keeping a close eye on the situation, questioning whether the city's leadership is actually moving toward systemic reform or if this is simply more internal political theater. For the community to continue its economic growth, local government stability and a level playing field are essential.