What Transparency Really Means in This Election

By Scott Tinlin, Candidate for Clawson City Council

This may be the hardest thing I’ll discuss during this campaign — but it’s also the most important for our community. Truth is a two-edged sword. It can make us uncomfortable, but it’s the only way we grow stronger together.

I was warned that politics is a full-contact sport — and that’s true. But I’ve survived because I believe the people of Clawson deserve honesty, even when it’s tough. Our community is stronger when leaders are willing to tell the truth, face criticism, and keep showing up.

Transparency isn’t a slogan — it’s a Leadership standard.

As voters, we hear a lot of short, polished sound bites this time of year. Phrases like “I want to get involved” or “I care about Clawson’s future.” They sound good — but do they tell you anything real about what a candidate has done, or what they plan to do?

True transparency means more than smiling for photos or posting family stories. It means being honest with residents about what the problems are, what the facts show, and what vision we have for solving them together. It means doing the work, sharing information openly, and standing by your record — not just your résumé.

When I talk about transparency, it’s not a new campaign promise — it’s what I’ve already been doing. Through my website, my public interviews, and my community walkabouts, I’ve made sure residents have clear access to my ideas, my record, and the reasoning behind my positions.

Social Media: A Tough Platform — But Still Important

Let’s be honest — social media can be a tough platform for meaningful discussion. It’s easy to post slogans or quick photos, but it’s much harder to have real discussion about the issues that matter. Most candidates steer away from dialogue online because it means answering tough questions and backing up statements with facts.

I’ve taken the opposite approach. Whether on my campaign site or social media community forums, I’ve chosen to engage and share information residents can verify for themselves. I believe open dialogue — even when it’s not convenient — builds trust. Transparency isn’t just about posting; it’s about listening and responding honestly.

True Leadership Looks Beyond Tomorrow

Elections have a deadline, but leadership doesn’t. True leaders don’t only think in four-year cycles. They think in decades. They serve the next generation — not just the next ballot.

I believe in making decisions that might not bring immediate applause, but that will benefit our children, and their children. Whether that’s investing in sustainable infrastructure, protecting green spaces, planning for growth in ways that preserve Clawson’s character, or ensuring public services are not only efficient now but resilient in the future.

That’s why, on my website and in my interviews, I’ve been clear about what I want Clawson to look like now and in the future. Not just what I’ll do if elected — but how I’ll lay groundwork so that future councils and future citizens inherit something better.

Unfortunately, not all candidates in this election have yet met that same bar. Many have described family stories, or how they want to get involved — but haven’t shown what they will build, or protect, or plan for beyond their own term.

Before you vote, take a closer look. See which candidates actually share facts, plans, outcomes — and a vision. Look at what’s been said in person, on social media, in interviews, and on campaign websites.

Clawson deserves leaders who don’t just talk about transparency — but live it. We need leaders who don’t just run for the next election — but, instead,  plan on serving Clawson now while building the foundation to serve our next generation.