Appointed to the San Fernando City Council on March 8, 2011.

Prior to being appointed to the San Fernando City Council, she was appointed by the mayor to represent the City of San Fernando on the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.

Uniquely, before becoming a Metropolitan Water District board member, she was an employee. She retired in 2007 from her position as a principal administrative analyst, in the Facilities Management section, after 21 years of service.

Ballin also served as past president of two Metropolitan employee organizations, The Woman's Association for Equal Opportunity and the Hispanic Association, and as past vice president of the Native American Alaska Native Employees Association, and past vice president of AFSCME Local 1902, Group 12. She is a board member for the California Latino Water Coalition and was a City of San Fernando Transportation & Safety Commissioner.

She also served as a member of the Sisters of Charity in San Fernando and on the city's Christmas parade committee. Ballin graduated from the University of La Verne with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.