A ray of sunshine is peeping through at the state Department of Commerce, thanks to a new attitude and a new state law.

If sunshine is a disinfectant, a bill that Gov. Mark Sanford signed may be a preventive ingredient for a lack of oversight and questionable spending at Commerce in previous administrations.

Two weeks ago, Commerce Secretary Bob Faith announced a major reorganization that will make the department leaner and more efficient by cutting the staff by about 25 percent to 97 employees and spending one-third less overall than in 2001.

Faith seems to have taken sound steps to improving operation of the department. He has cut divisions from 21 to six, shed nonessential jobs and moved out of a posh office to be among the troops, so to speak.

Though moving out of his posh office may be only symbolic, his call for more openness and the new state law calling for public access to records after a deal has been concluded may effect a change in culture at the department. Both are essential to regaining public confidence in the department.

Sunshine, as in openness of government, and honesty from public officials will go a long way toward restoring confidence. In the long term, the effort also will lead to better business deals to attract industry that the state sorely needs.