KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Motto Matters for South Valley Community

Motto Matters for South Valley Community

By: Dani Carlson and Kyra Jenkins

Soon the motto, "In God we trust" might be more prevalent in the City of Porterville.

Those words already have a place above the city of Porterville's seal in the council chambers but now they have created a big controversy in the small town.

"We're a people of faith and that should be within our city motto," said Pedro Pete Martinez, a sitting Porterville city council member.  Martinez originally raised the idea last November during a city council meeting.

In just seven days, voters will head to the polls to decide whether or not to have "In God we trust" as their motto.

"I don't need the city of Porterville telling me we trust in God or I trust in God, that's my choice and it should be outside the realm of government," said former city council member Ron Irish.

But Martinez said it doesn't violate the separation of church and state, but rather lets voters decide what their city stands for.

"Nobody is here to bash anybody, it merely sets parameters as to where we stand and reaffirms what our nation stands for," said Martinez.  "The voters need to decide it."

Irish stands by his opinion that the separation of church and state means there's no need for God in politics.

"If I want to go to church, I'll do that on Sunday and if I want to go to the city council meeting, I'll do that on Tuesday," said Irish.

Whatever the outcome, both sides agree they will stand behind what the voters decide.

The measure needs a majority vote to pass on next Tuesday.