Victorville began accepting applications Wednesday from qualified residents living in District 2 to fill a vacancy on the City Council.
Council members will select an applicant to serve the remainder of Councilwoman Debra Jones’ term that ends in December 2026.
In August, Jones announced she was stepping down and her last council meeting would be Oct. 21. She said her husband suffered a medical emergency that required the couple to move into a single-story home sooner than they had planned.
“After years of dedicated service to Victorville, I will soon be stepping down from the City Council as I prepare to relocate outside the city,” Jones posted on Facebook. “Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me.
“Together, we’ve achieved so much — from strengthening public safety to bringing new jobs and addressing homelessness with compassion and innovation,” Jones wrote. “I leave confident in Victorville’s future and in the capable hands of its leaders and residents.”
Jones told the Victorville Daily Press that she and her husband of more than 40 years, Gene, had been looking for homes in the Banning area for a possible move several years from now. The couple decided to focus on a single-story house in Sun Lakes Country Club, a gated community for active adults.
Jones was first elected in 2018 and reelected four years later. She has been recognized for her work on public safety, economic development and homelessness.
Jones helped implement the voter-approved Measure P, which increased funding for law enforcement and fire services, and helped to bring large employers such as Amazon and CarMax to the city.
She also played a key role in the December 2023 opening of the Victorville Wellness Center. The first-of-its-kind facility in San Bernardino County provides housing, medical services and wraparound support for people experiencing homelessness.
Since the center opened, Victorville has seen a 57% decrease in unsheltered homelessness compared with the 2024 point-in-time count.
Jones also backed projects for a new police station and civic plaza that are currently underway.
In addition to her council work, Jones served on regional boards including the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority and Mojave Desert & Mountain Recycling Joint Powers Authority. She was also an alternate on the Victor Valley Transit Authority and served on the League of California Cities Revenue and Taxation Committee.
“Serving as your City Councilmember has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Jones said in a statement. “Victorville will always be my home at heart. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together and confident the city will continue to thrive in the capable hands of its leadership and engaged residents.
“Victorville has my deepest love and unwavering belief,” Jones said. “Thank you for trusting me, for walking beside me, and for inviting me to serve. This community’s promise remains bright — one I’ll forever carry in my heart.”
District 2 is in the city’s southwest section. A map of the District 2 boundaries is available online.
Residents interested in being considered for council appointment must email a letter of interest and resume to City Clerk Jennifer Thompson at cityclerk@victorvilleca.gov no later than 5 p.m. Nov. 14. Applicants must reside in the 2nd District, be registered to vote and be able to attend City Council meetings held on the first and third Tuesdays each month beginning at 5 p.m. Additional meetings will be scheduled upon request and as needs for public hearings or closed sessions arise.
The four remaining council members will choose the appointee at an unspecified future date, according to the city.
Questions about City Council service should go to 760-955-5029 or cityclerk@victorvilleca.gov, officials said.
Located in Southern California’s High Desert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Victorville’s population totals about 136,000.
