Republican Linda Obrec to Run for Canton Township Clerk

CANTON TOWNSHIP, MI – Republican Linda Obrec has announced her candidacy for Canton Township clerk.

The current clerk, Terry Bennett, is retiring after 21 years.

The current volunteer president of Canton Newcomers & Neighbors, the largest women’s social group in the Canton area, Obrec said in a news release that “continuing my dedication through the township clerk office is a natural next step in my commitment to Canton Township.”

During her time with the Newcomers & Neighbors group, Obrec helped create the Canton Resident One Stop Open House that familiarizes newcomers and residents with nonprofit organizations and government service organizations. She also launched International Markets of Canton that promoted small Canton markets owned by ethnically diverse families.

Last year, Obrec was honored by Canton Township for her many community leadership roles with the “Canton Community Supporter” award, along with Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Congressman Dave Trott, R-Birmingham.

Obrec has been a community volunteer and supporter for 16 years. Some highlights include charter membership and past chair of the Commission for Culture, Arts and Heritage; charter membership in the Partnership for the Arts & Humanities and past board member; and charter membership in the Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle of the Canton Community Foundation. She is also a Friend of the Canton Lions Club, for which she led a campaign coordinated with Boy Scout Troop 743.

Obrec’s volunteer work for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools has included being a reader for the Accelerated Reader literacy program at Gallimore Elementary School, a math helper and supporting teachers at multiple schools through various roles.

Obrec raised more than $23,000 during Workman Elementary School’s second year of operation to help establish the PTO. She also led several initiatives for P-CCS sports booster clubs and a blue jean drive for the P-CCS Clothing Bank.

A Wayne State University Presidential Merit Scholar, Obrec graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing, then went on to get her master of business administration degree in management and finance.

While studying at WSU and having children, Obrec worked full-time for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce in core leadership roles. She is a team member recipient of the American Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence for her contribution to the SMART Millage Renewal Communication Campaign.

She also participated in the Institute for Organization Management program of the United States Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Leadership Detroit and is currently enrolled in the Leadership Canton program.

Following her chamber work, Obrec was Great Lakes area marketing manager for Sprint during the launch of the wireless industry, then served as vice president and marketing manager for Huntington Bank, East Michigan.

She started her own strategic marketing company, Front Line Resources Inc., whose clients included the city of Dearborn, Franco Public Relations Group, Michigan Boating Industries Association, Salvation Army of Southeast Michigan, Epitec and Meridian Health Plan of Michigan.

She and her husband, Scott, a police lieutenant, have one daughter, Jessica, and two sons, Scott and Devin.