Victorville council delays decision on filling District 2 vacancy until Nov. 4

The Victorville City Council voted 3-2 on Sept. 16, 2025 to delay any decision on how to fill the expected vacancy in District 2 until the council's Nov. 4 meeting.

Mayor Liz Becerra opened the agenda item, noting the council had received notice of a planned resignation that would create a vacancy at the end of business at the council's second meeting in October. City staff cited Government Code Section 36512 as the controlling statute, which gives local bodies two options for filling an elective vacancy: call a special election or make an appointment.

Councilmembers debated whether it was appropriate to begin soliciting applications or otherwise initiate an appointment process before the seat was formally vacant. Mayor Becerra initially made a motion to proceed with an appointment process that included advertising for District 2 applicants and a timeline that would close applications the day after the vacancy and return to council on Nov. 4 with applicants. Councilmember Godin offered a substitute motion to delay the decision until Nov. 4; that substitute motion passed 3-2. The roll-call vote was: Councilmember Godin, yes; Councilmember Irving, no; Councilmember Jones, yes; Mayor Pro Tem Bob Harriman, yes; Mayor Liz Becerra, no.

City staff told the council that the vacancy does not yet exist and that council members, including the member who has announced a resignation, may participate in discussion and votes until the seat is vacated. The staff attorney (Mr. Metzler) advised the council that nothing in state statute prevents the city from preparing solicitations in advance, but that the council could choose to wait until after the seat is formally vacant before taking action. Councilmembers also discussed the local policy manual language that refers to using an ad hoc subcommittee (less than a quorum) to develop an appointment process; staff advised that the statute controls and that an ad hoc committee is optional.

Councilmember Jones, who had announced her resignation, criticized the timing of the council's initial proposal to begin the appointment process prior to her departure and said the discussion felt "premature" and "preemptive." Jones said she considered it a matter of professional courtesy to wait; she also said she might abstain from votes on the matter but ultimately voted in favor of the motion to delay. Councilmember Godin said she wanted more time to review options and to respect the council process. Mayor Pro Tem Harriman said he favored moving the process forward in a timely manner.

Staff and council members referenced the 60-day statutory window for filling a vacancy; based on the expected vacancy date, staff estimated a deadline near Dec. 20, 2025 to take formal action if the council did not call a special election. The council directed staff to bring the matter back on Nov. 4 for further action.