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 · 2023–2024 Board
On split votes, Howe voted the same way as…
- Daniel L. Salvucci86% (6 of 7)
- Carl F. Kowalski57% (4 of 7)
- Justin R. Evans43% (3 of 7)
- Shawn M. Kain0% (0 of 7)
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2023–2024 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 26 of 28 Select Board meetings in 2023–2024 Board.
Missed
- Apr 11, 2024 · Regular: Absent
- Nov 14, 2023 · Regular: Absent
Every meeting (28)
- May 21, 2024 · Regular: Present
- May 7, 2024 · Regular: Present
- May 6, 2024 · Regular: Present (Laura L. Howe arrived late (7:30 p.m.))
- Apr 26, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Apr 23, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Apr 11, 2024 · Regular: Absent
- Apr 9, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 26, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 12, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Feb 20, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Feb 6, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 23, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 9, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Dec 19, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Dec 5, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Nov 28, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Nov 14, 2023 · Regular: Absent
- Oct 30, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Oct 17, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Oct 3, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Sep 29, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Sep 26, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Sep 12, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Aug 22, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Aug 1, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Jul 11, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Jun 20, 2023 · Regular: Present
- May 23, 2023 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2023–2024 Board
May 6Approve bill and payroll warrantsMotion: to approve bill and payroll warrantsPassed Unanimous, 4 present · Howe: Not recorded
May 6, 2024: Approve bill and payroll warrants
To approve bill and payroll warrants
Laura L. Howe had not yet arrived and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to approve bill and payroll warrants, Second Mr. Evans, so voted 4-0.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
May 6Accept correspondence in the Read FileMotion: to accept correspondence in the Read FilePassed Unanimous, 4 present · Howe: Not recorded
May 6, 2024: Accept correspondence in the Read File
To accept correspondence in the Read File
Laura L. Howe had not yet arrived and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to accept correspondence in the Read File, Second Mr. Evans, so voted 4-0.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
May 6Approve the use of Town Hall Auditorium by the…Motion: to approve the use of Town Hall Auditorium by the Whitman…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · Howe: Not recorded
May 6, 2024: Approve the use of Town Hall Auditorium by the Whitman Cultural Council for Whitman Day 2024on June 8, 2024, in the event of inclement weather
To approve the use of Town Hall Auditorium by the Whitman Cultural Council for Whitman Day 2024on June 8, 2024, in the event of inclement weather
Laura L. Howe had not yet arrived and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to approve the use of Town Hall Auditorium by the Whitman Cultural Council for Whitman Day 2024on June 8, 2024, in the event of inclement weather. Second Mr. Evans, so voted 4-0.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
May 6Approve the request of the Whitman Cultural Council to…Motion: to approve the request of the Whitman Cultural Council to reserve…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · Howe: Not recorded
May 6, 2024: Approve the request of the Whitman Cultural Council to reserve the Town Hall auditorium on July 11, 18 & 25 and August 1 & 8, 2024, as an alternate location…
To approve the request of the Whitman Cultural Council to reserve the Town Hall auditorium on July 11, 18 & 25 and August 1 & 8, 2024, as an alternate location for the summer concerts in the event of inclement weather
Laura L. Howe had not yet arrived and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to approve the request of the Whitman Cultural Council to reserve the Town Hall auditorium on July 11, 18 & 25 and August 1 & 8, 2024, as an alternate location for the summer concerts in the event of inclement weather. Second Mr. Evans, so voted 4-0.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
May 6Accept the contract between the Town of Whitman and…Motion: to accept the contract between the Town of Whitman and Deputy…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · Howe: Not recorded
May 6, 2024: Accept the contract between the Town of Whitman and Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Ford
To accept the contract between the Town of Whitman and Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Ford
Laura L. Howe had not yet arrived and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to accept the contract between the Town of Whitman and Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Ford. Second Mr. Evans, so voted 4-0.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Apr 26Approval of Bill and Payroll WarrantsMotion: Approval of Bill and Payroll WarrantsPassed Unanimous, 5 present · Howe: Yes
April 26, 2024: Approval of Bill and Payroll Warrants
Approval of Bill and Payroll Warrants
Voted: Yes
This was a roll-call re-vote of an item first voted on April 23, 2024, because Daniel L. Salvucci had taken part in that meeting by phone.
From the minutes
“Approval of Bill and Payroll Warrants Motion: Mr. Salvucci, second Mr. Evans. Roll call vote: Mr. Evans - yes; Ms. Howe - yes; Mr. Kain - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Apr 26Accept Correspondence in the Read FileMotion: Accept Correspondence in the Read FilePassed Unanimous, 5 present · Howe: Yes
April 26, 2024: Accept Correspondence in the Read File
Accept Correspondence in the Read File
Voted: Yes
This was a roll-call re-vote of an item first voted on April 23, 2024, because Daniel L. Salvucci had taken part in that meeting by phone.
From the minutes
“Accept Correspondence in the Read File Motion: Mr. Salvucci, second Mr. Evans. Roll call vote: Mr. Evans - yes; Ms. Howe - yes; Mr. Kain - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Apr 26Approve the application of Dennis Nash (Old Colony Brewing)…Motion: to approve the application of Dennis Nash (Old Colony Brewing) for…Passed 5–0 · Howe: Not recorded
April 26, 2024: Approve the application of Dennis Nash (Old Colony Brewing) for a One-Day Liquor License for a Beer Garden between the hours of 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m. during the Whitman…
To approve the application of Dennis Nash (Old Colony Brewing) for a One-Day Liquor License for a Beer Garden between the hours of 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m. during the Whitman Day 2024 event on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in the Whitman Town Park, subject to the receipt of a Certificate of Liability insurance stating Old Colony Brewing has general liability and $1 million liquor liability coverage for the duration of the event, with said certificate to reflect the address of the event and identify the Town of Whitman as an additional insured
This was a roll-call re-vote of an item first voted on April 23, 2024, because Daniel L. Salvucci had taken part in that meeting by phone. The roll call reads "Mr. Kain - Mr. Salvucci - yes," leaving out Mr. Kain's vote, so individual votes are not shown. The minutes record the vote as 5-0.
From the minutes
“Old Colony Brewing Motion: Mr. Salvucci; second Mr. Evans to approve the application of Dennis Nash (Old Colony Brewing) for a One-Day Liquor License for a Beer Garden between the hours of 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m. during the Whitman Day 2024 event on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in the Whitman Town Park, subject to the receipt of a Certificate of Liability insurance stating Old Colony Brewing has general liability and $1 million liquor liability coverage for the duration of the event, with said certificate to reflect the address of the event and identify the Town of Whitman as an additional insured. Roll call vote: Mr. Evans - yes; Ms. Howe - yes.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Apr 26Approve the recommendation of the Council on Aging to…Motion: to approve the recommendation of the Council on Aging to nominate…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · Howe: Yes
April 26, 2024: Approve the recommendation of the Council on Aging to nominate Mary Holland to serve as the Town's representative on the Board of Directors for Old Colony Elder Services for the…
To approve the recommendation of the Council on Aging to nominate Mary Holland to serve as the Town's representative on the Board of Directors for Old Colony Elder Services for the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025
Voted: Yes
This was a roll-call re-vote of an item first voted on April 23, 2024, because Daniel L. Salvucci had taken part in that meeting by phone.
From the minutes
“Nomination to OCES Board of Directors Motion: Mr. Salvucci, second Mr. Evans to approve the recommendation of the Council on Aging to nominate Mary Holland to serve as the Town's representative on the Board of Directors for Old Colony Elder Services for the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Roll Call vote: Mr. Evans - yes; Ms. Howe - yes; Mr. Kain - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Apr 26Approve the request of Town Clerk Dawn Varley to…Motion: to approve the request of Town Clerk Dawn Varley to appoint…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · Howe: Yes
April 26, 2024: Approve the request of Town Clerk Dawn Varley to appoint checkers for the May 6, 2024, Annual Town Meeting
To approve the request of Town Clerk Dawn Varley to appoint checkers for the May 6, 2024, Annual Town Meeting
Voted: Yes
This was a roll-call re-vote of an item first voted on April 23, 2024, because Daniel L. Salvucci had taken part in that meeting by phone.
From the minutes
“Appointment of Checkers for Annual Town Meeting Motion: Mr. Salvucci, second Mr. Evans to approve the request of Town Clerk Dawn Varley to appoint checkers for the May 6, 2024, Annual Town Meeting. Roll call vote: Mr. Evans - yes; Ms. Howe - yes; Mr. Kain - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Votes with no disagreement (217)
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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