Truth Vigilante: David Wren, The Sun News

Reader Robert M writes in to nominate reporter David Wren of The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as a "Truth Vigilante."

Robert highlights David's work to track what's happening to the money raised by a one-cent local sales tax that's supposed to be funding tourism advertising but that's being administered by the local Chamber of Commerce - which is fighting attempts at oversight.

"The one-cent sales tax raises millions per year... and it's easy to imagine the kinds of self-dealing that are possible," Robert wrote. "Well, David has repeatedly asked for an accounting of how the tax money is spent, and apparently the official responses to his inquiries have become absolutely absurd."

Check out the story: Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce answers records request

Here's a quote, which illustrates the absurdity David faced:

"When [Chamber of Commerce lawyer David] Slough gave The Sun News access to the material on June 24, he said the documents were randomly placed in the boxes, which were stored in no apparent order by either date, category or topic.

"Three hours of review in the chamber's un-air-conditioned warehouse, undertaken as a forklift operator moved boxes within a few feet of the documents and three different songs played continuously on separate speakers, produced no information relevant to the request."

Three hours of listening to "Chipmunk Christmas" while sifting through reams of unsorted paper, next to forklifts, in a steamy warehouse, to find how the public's money is being spent?

David Wren, you're a Truth Vigilante.

Robert Niles also can be found at http://www.themeparkinsider.com

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