MassVoter.com← Whitman Select Board
Whitman Clerk
Shawn M. Kain
Elected townwide · 5 terms in this record
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Board years
Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Board
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2024–2025 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Kain 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.
In the news
No recent stories found that name Shawn M. Kain in the headline or opening.
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Disclosure: MassVoter’s founder, Michael Silvia, is the publisher of Fall River Reporter and New Bedford Guide.
Attendance
At the start of 23 of 25 Select Board meetings in 2024–2025 Board.
Missed
- Dec 2, 2024 · Regular: Absent
- Jun 18, 2024 · Regular: Absent
Every meeting (25)
- May 5, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Apr 29, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Apr 22, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Apr 15, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Apr 7, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Mar 25, 2025 · Joint: Present
- Mar 11, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Feb 25, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Feb 4, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Jan 21, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Jan 7, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Dec 17, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Dec 2, 2024 · Regular: Absent
- Nov 26, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Nov 12, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Oct 22, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Oct 8, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Oct 1, 2024 · Joint: Present
- Sep 17, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Sep 10, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Aug 20, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jul 23, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jul 9, 2024 · Joint: Present
- Jun 18, 2024 · Regular: Absent
- Jun 4, 2024 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2024–2025 Board
Apr 7Place the following question on the May 17, 2025,…Motion: to place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual…Failed 2–2 · Kain: No
April 7, 2025: Place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual Town Election Ballot: "Shall the Town of Whitman be allowed to assess an additional $2,400,000 in real estate and property…
To place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual Town Election Ballot: "Shall the Town of Whitman be allowed to assess an additional $2,400,000 in real estate and property taxes for the purpose of funding the Fiscal Year 2026operating budget of the Town for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025?" Mr. Kowalski, serving as Chair, temporarily passed the gavel to Vice Chair Mr. Salvucci in order to second the motion
Voted: No
Yes: Evans, KowalskiNo: Kain, SalvucciCarl F. Kowalski, the chair, passed the gavel to Vice Chair Daniel L. Salvucci in order to second this motion.
From the minutes
“Mr. Evans moved to place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual Town Election Ballot: "Shall the Town of Whitman be allowed to assess an additional $2,400,000 in real estate and property taxes for the purpose of funding the Fiscal Year 2026operating budget of the Town for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025?" Mr. Kowalski, serving as Chair, temporarily passed the gavel to Vice Chair Mr. Salvucci in order to second the motion. The motion failed by a vote of 2-2: Mr. Evans and Mr. Kowalski voted in favor; Mr. Kain and Mr. Salvucci voted against..” (Motion: Evans, second: Kowalski)
Apr 7Place the following question on the May 17, 2025,…Motion: to place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual…Passed 3–1 · Kain: Yes
April 7, 2025: Place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual Town Election Ballot: "Shall the Town of Whitman be allowed to assess an additional $2,000,000 in real estate and personal…
To place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual Town Election Ballot: "Shall the Town of Whitman be allowed to assess an additional $2,000,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding the Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget of the Town for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025?"
Voted: Yes
Yes: Evans, Kain, KowalskiNo: Salvucci
From the minutes
“Mr. Kain moved to place the following question on the May 17, 2025, Annual Town Election Ballot: "Shall the Town of Whitman be allowed to assess an additional $2,000,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding the Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget of the Town for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025?" Mr. Kowalski seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 3-1, with Mr. Salvucci opposed..” (Motion: Kain, second: Kowalski)
Nov 26Appoint Rosemary Hill to the Capital Committee as the…Motion: to appoint Rosemary Hill to the Capital Committee as the School…Failed 2–3 · Kain: Yes
November 26, 2024: Appoint Rosemary Hill to the Capital Committee as the School Committee representative for the remainder of a three-year term, ending June 30th, 2027, in order to fill an existing vacancy
To appoint Rosemary Hill to the Capital Committee as the School Committee representative for the remainder of a three-year term, ending June 30th, 2027, in order to fill an existing vacancy
Voted: Yes
Yes: Howe, KainNo: Evans, Kowalski, Salvucci
From the minutes
“Mr. Kain MOVED to appoint Rosemary Hill to the Capital Committee as the School Committee representative for the remainder of a three-year term, ending June 30th, 2027, in order to fill an existing vacancy. The motion was seconded by Ms. Howe, so voted 2-3 (opposed by Mr. Kowalski, Mr. Salvucci, and Mr. Evans).” (Motion: Kain, second: Howe)
Jun 4Approve the FY25 annual appointments, with the exception of…Motion: to approve the FY25 annual appointments, with the exception of Elaine…Passed 4–0 · Kain: Yes
June 4, 2024: Approve the FY25 annual appointments, with the exception of Elaine Melisi (Conservation Commission), as listed in a document on file in the Board of Selectmen's office
To approve the FY25 annual appointments, with the exception of Elaine Melisi (Conservation Commission), as listed in a document on file in the Board of Selectmen's office
Voted: Yes
Yes: Evans, Kain, Kowalski, SalvucciAbstained: Howe
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to approve the FY25 annual appointments, with the exception of Elaine Melisi (Conservation Commission), as listed in a document on file in the Board of Selectmen's office, Evans seconded. All members present voted in favor, with Mrs. Howe abstaining..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Jun 4Increase the demand fees from $15 to $20Motion: to increase the demand fees from $15 to $20Passed 4–0 · Kain: Yes
June 4, 2024: Increase the demand fees from $15 to $20
To increase the demand fees from $15 to $20
Voted: Yes
Yes: Evans, Kain, Kowalski, SalvucciAbstained: Howe
From the minutes
“Mr. Kain moved to increase the demand fees from $15 to $20, seconded by Mr. Salvucci. The motion passed with four in favor and one abstention (Mrs. Howe abstained).” (Motion: Kain, second: Salvucci)
Votes with no disagreement (41)
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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