Think vanilla.

Nebraskans who chose among four designs for the state's next motor vehicle license plates chose the plainest entry.

No state bird or state flower.

No "Good Life" designation.

No state Capitol.

The winner is a simple black, white and red plate with "Nebraska.gov" in red on top and "Nebraska" in gray along one side.

Gov. Dave Heineman announced the winning entry during a telephone news conference on Tuesday, ending a two-week dust-up over the plain nature of all four proposed designs.

About 109,000 people voted for their favorite entries online, with the winner getting nearly 41,000 votes.

"I know we can't make everyone happy," the governor said. "It's a matter of personal taste."

Heineman stressed the paramount importance of selecting a license plate that can help law enforcement officers by being easy to read.

Readability is critical, said Col. Bryan Tuma, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

"License plates are our first and quickest means of identification," he said.

"Plates are crucial in providing a unique description of a vehicle in any number of situations where time is of the essence."

Heineman said it's important to keep that goal in perspective when assessing or criticizing the license plate design.

The new plates will be issued in 2011.

Nebraska changes its license plate design every six years.

This time around, a design featuring the state bird and state flower finished second, with nearly 34,000 votes.

The Capitol design came in third, with about 27,000 votes.

Bringing up the rear was the "Good Life" plate, with nearly 7,000 votes.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.