God Plaque Voted Down

A large plaque bearing the motto “In God We Trust” will not be hung in the Oceanside City Council chambers after all. City council members voted down the faux bronze sign on in a 3-to-2 vote last night. The outcome reverses an October vote approving the sign.

Oceanside Mayor Terry Johnson says he personally believes in God. But he adds, public comment against displaying the plaque in a public building at a November council meeting convinced him it wasn´t appropriate for the City Council Chambers.

Another council member who supported the plaque lost her reelection bid last month and was replaced by a new member who voted against it last night. The sign was the idea of Oceanside Deputy Mayor Jack Feller who said he thought displaying the nation´s official motto would unite the community.

The motto “In God We Trust” first appeared in 1864 on the two-cent coin. It was instituted in response to an increase in religious sentiment during the Civil War.