Burnet city councilor resigns due to business conflict
Burnet City Councilmember Tres Clinton, who resigned from office on Nov. 30, 2025, citing a conflict of interest with his aviation business expansion. Facebook profile photo.
Burnet City Councilor Tres Clinton resigned this week, stating that the rapid growth of his aviation company had created an unavoidable conflict of interest with city ethics rules. His departure leaves an open seat on the council until voters choose a replacement during a May special election.
Clinton, who had served nearly nine years with the city, said his October purchase of an aircraft maintenance business operating in a city-owned hangar at the Burnet airport placed him in violation of the city’s ethics ordinance, which bars councilmembers from leasing or subleasing city property. While state law would have permitted the arrangement, Burnet’s code of ethics did not, forcing Clinton to choose between his public role and the expansion of C3 Air, his aviation company.
Clinton submitted his resignation on Sunday, Nov. 30, sharing his letter to the City Council via a Facebook post, citing that the acquisition of the maintenance business created a clear conflict. He included an excerpt of the city’s ethics code to illustrate the issue.
“I’ve enjoyed about nine years of service to the community and I’m excited about the growth of C3 Air but unfortunately it’s at the expense of my service to the city,” Clinton told DailyTrib.
A fourth-generation Burnet resident, Clinton has professionally flown out of the Burnet airport since 2009. He said his intention is to operate the business transparently and in compliance with city rules.
“I want to rent directly to the city,” he told DailyTrib of his new purchase. “In the process, I want to make sure we’re all square.”
City Manager David Vaughn praised Clinton’s long tenure and community impact.
“Councilmember Clinton has served our community for nearly nine years and during that time has contributed greatly to where we are today as one of the best places to live in the Hill Country,” Vaughn told DailyTrib. “While there have been many significant accomplishments during this time, the most impressive to me has been his willingness and ability to help others in time of need, particularly what he was able to do to help during COVID and more recently, during the July flooding. Even for those that may not know him, everyone’s lives in our community have been impacted in a positive manner by his contributions and willingness to go above and beyond to help those in need.”