Deb Denys wants to shout to the rooftops: 'We got to the Yes!'

Deb Denys / Headline SurferDAYTONA BEACH -- There are certain things in life that you just can't do anything about. Among those is the actions of others. Sure, you can try to change their behavior, maybe even their way of thinking, at least for a while.

But the essence of who they are, what's in their heart and soul, is something only they control. That's reality. In Volusia County government, the reality is the lust for taxpayer money and who can access it.

Anyone who curbs that flow of money becomes the enemy. There are no bigger whores to doling out that revenue than politicians who love being in the limelight. And that is made possible by doling out more advertising to media friends.

Their conduit to power, fame and glory is the hard-earned bed tax collections from the tourists who visit the New Smyrna Beach area, staying in local hotels and condo rentals.

Over the next few days, you'll be seeing our stories on this issue under the heading,"Show Me the Money: Volusia County."

The players in this mini-series are too numerous to list here and now, but those who stand out for special recognition are Dist. 3 County Councilwoman Deb Denys,GOP boss Stanley Escudero, County Manager Jim Dinneen, County Chair Jason Davis, former County Chair Frank Bruno, former Chamber of Commerce Presidents Robert Lott, and Kenneth Bohannon, lawyer Glenn Storch, New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer and Deny's 2012 campaign opponent, Jim Hathaway.

It is the chambers of commerce that are desperate for the cash and their conduits like Barringer, Bruno and Denys are all too eager to pick up the sword and fight for them.

You'll learn why Palmer Wilson, the "current" chairman of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, is their enemy, which is why he will once again be stripped of his chairmanship, one way or another.

Why? Because he won't play the game.

The taxpayers' money is divided into three areas: The bulk of it, of course to run government (with two-thirds going for salaries and benefits) and the rest split between advertising revenue for media, which politicians need as their lifeline in self-promotion and the other benefactor being the insider entities like the chambers and their affiliated friends.

Those media outlets that challenge the status quo are purposely excluded from the advertising -- a phrase politicians like to call "starving them out." Such a phrase is directed at us, the upstart "new media." Strip Palmer Wilson of his power, starve out Headline Surfer and then it's back to business as usual.

Keep feeding the Daytona Beach News-Journal and resume funding the chambers and then it's business us usual. Then Denys can once again bellow from the dais: "We got to the Yes!"

Keep feeding the Daytona Beach News-Journal and resume funding the chambers and then it's business us usual. Then Denys can once again bellow from the dais: "We got to the Yes!"