MassVoter.com← Whitman Select BoardWhitman Former Select Board member
Laura L. Howe
Elected townwide · 3 terms in this record
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Board years
Record at a glance · 2025–2026 Board
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2025–2026 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Howe as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole board” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
Attendance
At the start of 20 of 24 Select Board meetings in 2025–2026 Board.
Missed
- Apr 10, 2026 · Regular: Absent
- Jan 12, 2026 · Regular: Absent
- Dec 30, 2025 · Regular: Absent
- Jun 11, 2025 · Regular: Absent
Every meeting (24)
- May 4, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Apr 23, 2026 · Regular: Present (Laura L. Howe left the meeting before the executive session)
- Apr 21, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Apr 10, 2026 · Regular: Absent
- Apr 7, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Mar 24, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Mar 10, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Feb 17, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jan 27, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jan 12, 2026 · Regular: Absent
- Dec 30, 2025 · Regular: Absent
- Dec 15, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Dec 1, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Nov 18, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Oct 28, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Oct 7, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Sep 23, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Sep 9, 2025 · Regular: Present (Laura L. Howe stepped away from the board for one item (she is the Animal Control Officer))
- Aug 19, 2025 · Regular: Present (Laura L. Howe stepped away from the board for one item (she is the Animal Control Officer))
- Jul 8, 2025 · Regular: Present (Laura L. Howe stepped away from the board for one item)
- Jun 24, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Jun 11, 2025 · Regular: Absent
- May 27, 2025 · Regular: Present
- May 20, 2025 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2025–2026 Board
Apr 23Appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town…Motion: to appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town AdministratorPassed 3–2 · Howe: Not recorded
April 23, 2026: Appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town Administrator
To appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town Administrator
This was a roll-call choice among finalists, not a yes-or-no vote: Laura L. Howe, Daniel L. Salvucci and Shawn M. Kain chose Matt Dyer; Carl F. Kowalski and Justin R. Evans chose Sabrina Chilcott. The minutes record it as 3-2 in favor of Matt Dyer.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town Administrator, seconded by Mr. Evans. The vote was as follows: Ms. Howe - Matt Dyer; Mr. Salvucci - Matt Dyer; Chair Kowalski - Sabrina Chilcott; Mr. Evans - Sabrina Chilcott; and Mr. Kain - Matt Dyer. So voted 3-2 in favor of Matt Dyer..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Mar 24Approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington…Motion: to approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and…Passed 4–1 · Howe: Yes
March 24, 2026: Approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and Danielle Harrington) for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for the premises located at 470 Temple Street, subject to receipt…
To approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and Danielle Harrington) for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for the premises located at 470 Temple Street, subject to receipt of satisfactory character references, payment of the license fee, submission of the surety bond required under M.G.L. c. 140, §58, and final inspection and approval by the Building Commissioner; and to rescind the license currently held by Mass Auto World, Inc. for this location, effective upon issuance of the new license to CTS Auto, LLC
Voted: Yes
Yes: Evans, Howe, Kowalski, SalvucciNo: Kain
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and Danielle Harrington) for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for the premises located at 470 Temple Street, subject to receipt of satisfactory character references, payment of the license fee, submission of the surety bond required under M.G.L. c. 140, §58, and final inspection and approval by the Building Commissioner; and to rescind the license currently held by Mass Auto World, Inc. for this location, effective upon issuance of the new license to CTS Auto, LLC., seconded by Ms. Howe; the motion carried by voice vote 4-1-0 (Mr. Kain opposed).” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Howe)
Mar 24Put forward an override to cover the proposed public…Motion: to put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety…Failed 2–3 · Howe: Not recorded
March 24, 2026: Put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety cuts, the full school assessment, snow and ice deficit, reduce the amount drawn from OPEB for retiree benefits, and to…
To put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety cuts, the full school assessment, snow and ice deficit, reduce the amount drawn from OPEB for retiree benefits, and to keep the library open; if the override fails, the proposed cuts to public safety would move forward
The minutes give only the count (2-3), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Evans moved to put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety cuts, the full school assessment, snow and ice deficit, reduce the amount drawn from OPEB for retiree benefits, and to keep the library open; if the override fails, the proposed cuts to public safety would move forward, seconded by Mr. Salvucci; the motion failed by voice vote 2-3-0.” (Motion: Evans, second: Salvucci)
Mar 24Pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services…Motion: to pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and…Failed 2–3 · Howe: Not recorded
March 24, 2026: Pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and to explore not funding non-mandated busing, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close and publi
To pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and to explore not funding non-mandated busing, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close and public safety would be preserved under either scenario
The minutes give only the count (2-3), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Kain moved to pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and to explore not funding non-mandated busing, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close and public safety would be preserved under either scenario, seconded by Ms. Howe; the motion failed by voice vote 2-3-0.” (Motion: Kain, second: Howe)
Mar 24Pursue an override to keep the library open, with…Motion: to pursue an override to keep the library open, with the…Passed 3–2 · Howe: Not recorded
March 24, 2026: Pursue an override to keep the library open, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close
To pursue an override to keep the library open, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close
The minutes give only the count (3-2), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Kain moved to pursue an override to keep the library open, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close, seconded by Ms. Howe; the motion carried by voice vote 3-2-0.” (Motion: Kain, second: Howe)
Sep 23Issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal…Motion: to issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control…Passed 4–0 · Howe: Abstained
September 23, 2025: Issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control Officer
To issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control Officer
Voted: Abstained
Yes: Evans, Kain, Kowalski, SalvucciAbstained: Howe
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control Officer. Seconded by Mr. Evans; the motion carried 4-0-1 (Mrs. Howe abstained).” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Sep 9The Board take no further actionMotion: that the Board take no further actionPassed Unanimous, 3 present · Howe: Not recorded
September 9, 2025: The Board take no further action
That the Board take no further action
Laura L. Howe had stepped away from the board for this item and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Evans moved that the Board take no further action, seconded by Mr. Kain; the motion carried by voice vote 3-0.” (Motion: Evans, second: Kain)
Jul 8Appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver,…Motion: to appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · Howe: Not recorded
July 8, 2025: Appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and Pest Control Inspector, through June 30, 2026
To appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and Pest Control Inspector, through June 30, 2026
Laura L. Howe had stepped away from the board for this item and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and Pest Control Inspector, through June 30, 2026. Mr. Kain seconded; the motion carried 3-0.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Kain)
Votes with no disagreement (213)
From the Whitman Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: stills from WHCA-TV’s candidate interviews (Daniel Salvucci 2024; Justin Evans and Shawn Kain 2025; Dawn Byers and Christina Gorman 2026). Former members show initials.
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