Victorville council removes Adelanto ex-superintendent from Measure P panel over allegations

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07-04-2025

The Victorville City Council voted to remove resident Michael Krause from the Measure P Oversight Committee in a 3-2 vote.
The council's move also reinstated three other committee members who were up for term.
The committee was created in 2020 with the passage of Measure P by the Victorville voters. Revenue levied from Measure P has since been used to enhance public safety and a "number of other services," said City Manager Keith C. Metzler during the April 1 council meeting.
The Oversight Committee reviews the annual audit to inform the council whether the funds were spent consistent with the intent of Measure P.
The motion to remove Krause, a recent superintendent of the Adelanto Elementary School District, was spearheaded by Councilwoman Deborah Jones, who served as an Adelanto school board member from 2010 to 2018.
Jones said she sought Krause's removal because of an alleged workplace restraining order that three former school district co-workers filed against him.
Victorville City Attorney Andre De Bortnowsky said the allegation did not disqualify Krause to serve on the Oversight Committee.
"The removal comes as a surprise," Krause said after learning from the Daily Press he was terminated from his volunteer position on the Oversight Committee.
The incident in the Adelanto school district is not related to the Oversight Committee, he said. "I was a part of the committee as a way to give back to my community."
Krause's position as an Army medic at Fort Irwin brought him to the High Desert shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
He said there is more at play with the decision to remove him from the Measure P committee.
When Councilwoman Leslie Irving asked about Krause's performance on the committee, Metzler told the council Krause served well in his capacity.
However, the decision was based on maintaining the "integrity of the committee" by the Victorville City Council - specifically Councilwoman Jones - who argued that the decision "upholds safety and respect," especially for the three High Desert women for whom the restraining order is in place.
A total of four committee spots had expired terms as of April 2025. Membership was reaffirmed for the three other committee members up for term: Mark Creffield, Jeremy Taylor, and Margaret Cooker.
The city will begin recruitment for the now-vacant position of Resident Member of Education right away.
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Measure P is a one-cent tax that was presented to the city council on May 19, 2020, as a part of the Victorville Public Safety Plan, which allowed the city to hire more public safety officers
On Oct. 6, 2020, the council established the Measure P committee, and on Nov. 3, voters approved the measure.
The measure increased Victorville's sales tax rate from 7.75 percent to 8.75 percent.
The revenue generated by this measure goes to the city. For fiscal year 2024-25, the city is projecting it will raise $29.25 million.
According to the city, revenue generated by this general tax measure enables the city to expand essential public safety services like the police and fire departments, as well as homeless outreach programs.
Seven volunteer resident members are required to maintain the Measure P Committee. These positions include Resident Members of:
Local Major Retail Industry
Local Chamber of Commerce
Youth/Recreation
Clergy
Non-Profit Social Services Provider
Education
The Senior Community
When the resolution was first adopted, there were seven standard requirements members had to represent, including leadership.
"We've since had to relax that standard," Metzler told the council at the April 1 council meeting, to get the full membership.
The seven members must police Measure P expenditures and report either conformance or non-conformance with the intent of Measure P to the city council no later than May 15 of each year for the upcoming budget year.
They must also review annual independent accountant's audit report on Measure P revenues and expenditures and provide appropriate report to the city council.
A selection committee consisting of the mayor, mayor pro-tem and the city manager reviews applications for appointment and then recommends committee members to the city council for approval.
McKenna Mobley is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville council removes ex-superintendent from Measure P committee