ANAHEIM, Calif. — For Mike Robbins, this upcoming Anaheim City Council election is about control.

"Are we going to see the cabal continue to control Anaheim, or are we going in a different direction?" said Robbins, who has lived in Anaheim for more than three decades.

Plagued by corruption allegations and that a so-called cabal, a secretive faction, is controlling members of the Anaheim City Council, many see next week's election as a way to turn things around for the beleaguered city's reputation or remain the same.

The city will have a new mayor after former Mayor Harry Sidhu stepped down due to an FBI corruption probe. Three City Council seats are up for grabs in next week's election. A fourth seat could open up at the end of this year if current Councilman Avelino Valencia wins the California State Assembly District 68 race. Valencia won the primary election. The incoming council members serve a four-year term.

A new mayor and three council seats on a seven-member council could form a majority voting bloc that can turn the tide on any issues that may spring up in the city in the coming years. 

The big question is, in what direction will these new council members sway — for the so-called businesses or the residents?

"Anaheim is a microcosm of a much larger debate about the role of big money influencing politics," said Mike Moodian, a senior lecturer of leadership studies at Chapman University. "It's a tale of two cities. You have the affluent Anaheim Hills area and the working class around the Resort District and west side."

Historically, Anaheim has always had a reputation as a business-friendly "company town." 

The Disneyland Resort is Orange County's largest employer, employing more than 30,000 people. There are more than 150 hotels and the largest convention center on the West Coast. Two professional sports franchises exist, the Los Angeles Angels and Anaheim Ducks. 

Some argue that businesses such as Disneyland and the Angels have allowed the city to thrive, create jobs and bring in tens of millions of visitors a year. 

The money generated from the hotels along the resort area — $167 million in bed tax — is the largest contributor to the city's general fund, which pays for the city's police and firefighters, community centers and street maintenance. 

However, on the flip side, workers have struggled, with many unable to afford Orange County's expensive housing, said Moodian. 

Moodian said residents have complained about the lack of funding for after-school programs, the lack of park space in certain city areas and a growing homeless issue. 

"In years past, they've seen the council do the bidding of businesses and not standing up for the working class and lower-income people," he said.

But it can also go the other way.

In the mid-2010s, after a supposed business-friendly council passed a series of new ordinances giving a tax break to hotel developers of four-diamond quality resorts in the city and a $300 million streetcar project, a "people-friendly" council immediately revoked them. 

According to Voice of OC, this year, much of the Disney and special interest business money is going toward the election of District 2 incumbent Gloria Sahagún Ma'ae, who has so far received more than $78,000, Natalie Rubalcava for District 3 ($105,000) and Natalie Meeks ($71,000).

Meanwhile, Sahagún Ma'ae's opponent Carlos Leon in District 2, has received $54,000 in contributions, according to his financial disclosures filed with the city ending Oct. 22. Rubalcava's opponent, Al Jabbar, in District 3, has raised $73,000, and Meeks' rival Hari Shankar Lal in District 6, has received $91,000.

Receiving the most money doesn't always guarantee a win, but it does help, said Moodian.

"To win in Anaheim, you need money and a whole operation to win," he said. "We are seeing a lot of money for these council races."

So it has shifted back and forth over the years.

With everything going on in Anaheim, will we see another shift? 

"It'll be up to voters to decide," he said. "This is a major election that will determine where the city goes. We at Chapman are keeping an eye on it."

Here are the candidates running for the Anaheim City Council:

Ashleigh Aitken, an attorney, consumer advocate and businesswoman 

Trevor O'Neil, a current city council member, District 6

Dick Lopez, a water systems operator for the city

Lorri Galloway, a former council member and nonprofit executive

Gloria Sahagún Ma’ae, incumbent current councilwoman

Carlos A. Leon, a business development manager

Natalie Rubalcava, a city commissioner and businesswoman

Al Jabbar, Anaheim Union High Board of Trustee 

Natalie Meeks, a city commissioner

Hari Shankar Lal, consumer advocate lawyer