Indio City Council votes to restore invocation at meetings

Indio City Council voted unanimously to bring back invocation, shortly after Mayor Lupe Ramos Watson decided to remove prayer at its meetings.

According to Councilman Mike Wilson, the council voted 4-0 on the invocation policy and the mayor abstained in lieu of voting no. Wilson said invocation will be back on the agenda at every meeting beginning March 4.

Outspoken residents filled Indio’s city council chambers on February 4 to express their reaction to the mayor’s decision. At that time, the council decided to not put it to a vote, but table it out for the time being.

Some local residents said the issue of invocation in Indio could impact the way they voted in future elections.

Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells all begin their meetings with the pledge of allegiance.

Cathedral City, Palm Desert and Palm Springs city councils all begin with prayer, and Indio is once again back in that category as well.