Hood River County, Oregon, is holding an election on May 16. This afternoon, near a local supermarket, I saw a campaign sign for one of the school board candidates. According to the sign, this candidate is "Transparent and Responsive with Integrity"
I understand "responsive" and, at least sometimes, I think I understand "integrity," but this usage of "transparent" throws me.
According to Merriam-Webster, "TRANSPARENT implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly." But that's about objects.
M-W also claims that "TRANSPARENT" means
"2a: free from pretense or deceit : FRANK
2b: easily detected or seen through : OBVIOUS
2c: readily understood
2d: characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transparent
I'm familiar with the concept of well-designed business processes being "transparent," but I don't recall ever hearing or reading that people -- other than H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man -- are considered to be transparent. Their motives might be transparent. For example, someone might be viewed as "transparently opportunistic." But if you thought a person was "free from pretense or deceit," would you call that person "transparent"?
So, what do you say? Should the sign be re-written? Alternatively, is my understanding of "transparent" incomplete or out-of-date?