Addison Township (Oakland Co.) Clerk Pauline Bennett has been elected president of the Michigan Townships Association (MTA). Serving more than 99% of Michigan’s 1,240 townships—which includes more than 6,500 elected leaders plus tens of thousands of additional township appointed officials, staff and volunteers—MTA is the largest municipal association in the state, and one of the largest in the nation. Bennett was elected to Association president by her township peers at MTA’s 2023 Annual Educational Conference, held April 17-20 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme Township.
Bennett, who has been clerk since 1996, has served on the MTA Board of Directors since 2009.
“I am honored to serve, and stand with, Michigan’s townships as 2023 MTA president,” Bennett said. “MTA is townships’ our connection, our advocate and our voice, and is the strongest advocate for townships to maintain local authority to govern their individual communities. Township government is the best form of government as we are closest to the people, and as MTA president, I am committed to retaining local authority at the township level.”
Bennett was elected clerk after serving four years on the township planning commission. Since 1998, Bennett has served on the Oxford Addison Youth Assistance Board of Directors. Bennett obtained a zoning administrator certificate in 2012, and became a certified municipal clerk in 2003. Bennett is also a member of Oakland County Clerks Association and Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks.