Gary Ovitt
11:39 PM PST on Saturday, November 27, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County supervisors could be adding the motto “In God We Trust” to their board chambers.
Board Chairman Gary Ovitt said he will introduce a proposal at the Dec. 7 meeting to add the benediction to the wall behind the dais where supervisors sit.
“It’s a way of trying to set the tone for the discussion and business that take place in the chambers,” he said.
Board meetings already include an invocation, usually given by a local religious leader, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ovitt decided to consider adding the motto after Chino Valley Unified School District board member James Na raised the request two weeks ago.
Na told supervisors that Joyce Butler, a longtime Chino community activist who recently passed away, asked him to do so.
“One of her last wishes was to have our national motto to be installed, displayed in the county chambers,” Na said.
Other cities such as Chino, Chino Hills and Ontario already have similar displays.
Adding the motto to government buildings has been challenged in some areas by those who say it violates the separation of church and state.
Earlier this year, a federal appeals court upheld the use of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency after a Sacramento atheist sued.
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This is beyond funny. The most incompetent, inept, stupid, idiotic chair of the board coming up with an idea, albeit not his own. Too bad he didnt exert some leadership. Instead he just turns the county over to his friends and cronies. I got news for you Ovitt: all the fake religious actions wont save you from the fate of your ill gotten gains.
Really? He is going to do this to honor an activist while he spends much of his time hindering the right and legal laws: like in case CV 10-07752. Mr. Ovitt just because you put up In God We Trust will not save you and the rest of the board from the wrong things that all of you and the County Continues to do. Rosa Parks didn’t do what she was told to do on the bus and the County and the Board of Supervisors will not keep those of us like me who are fighting the good fight for the people down for ever. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it will shine!