One thing is for sure about this election cycle — City Council candidate Don Tipps has the heart of a lion when it comes to local politics.

In case you missed it, this week, Tipps received an endorsement from Protect and Serve Texas PAC, a shady political action committee based out of Austin and funded by liberal lawmakers who support appointing Democrats to powerful Texas House committees. The organization is directly tied to Amarillo Matters PAC through its mutual primary consultant, Murphy Nasica.

After the endorsement hit local voters’ mailboxes in the form of a mailer, many people began asking questions about the group. While a few candidates — like Place 4 candidate Les Simpson — said they had no knowledge of the endorsement, but still accepted it, Tipps didn’t just blindly take the support. Instead, Tipps would disavow the endorsement and make it clear that he did not solicit the group’s support, nor would he accept their support.

“One of my main issues in my platform is transparency and I align myself with organizations that understand the importance and operate using this principle as well,” Tipps stated on social media. “This endorsement was the complete opposite; and, therefore I do not accept this endorsement.”

With this simple action — an action that none of the other candidates endorsed by this shady group has taken — Tipps showed that he truly is committed to being free of the outside influence of the establishment groups that have driven the agenda at City Hall for the past six years. By making it clear to voters his true feelings on the group, he set the record straight and made good on his promise to push transparency as his top priority.

This move by Tipps was promising and showed that he isn’t just talking the talk — he’s also walking the walk when it comes to transparency and accountability. His actions are reminiscent of Texas President Sam Houston’s famous call to, “Do right and risk the consequences.” Tipps is doing the right thing by setting the record straight and eschewing endorsements that go against his values, even despite the risks that come from losing this group’s support. That alone speaks volumes.

Voters should take notice when they go vote: Don Tipps isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, set the record straight, and push away any influences that take away from his core values. We could use more elected officials like Tipps at City Hall.