Endorsements
I am honored to have the support of various individuals who believe in my vision for our community. These endorsements reflect a shared commitment to progress and positive change.
William Straus
Former 10th Bristol State Representative
Mattapoisett voters have some very important choices to make in the coming town election which will determine the future direction for our town. Expansion of the Select Board from three to five members (coupled with the departure of Tyler Macallister from local public office) means that we will have three brand new members on the Board. It’s important that we choose wisely when we vote on Tuesday, May 19th. Without hesitation, and for all of the most positive reasons, I will be casting one of my votes for Select Board for current school committee member Frances – Feliz Kearns. She has already demonstrated to me the knowledge, skill and ability to be a strong leader for the challenges that lay ahead for Mattapoisett. Her commitment to the Town is real and proven. When I served in the Legislature I had the chance to meet and work with Frances on town and school issues. In 2020, Frances was among the lead local voices advocating for improvements to ORR and the athletic facilities. That advocacy contributed to a successful and critical state budget earmark for the regional high school. In the years that followed, I have found her to be a reliable partner who approaches issues in a fair and open minded way. It’s a pleasure to have such an easy choice deciding whom to support in the coming election. Please join me in casting a vote for Frances for Mattapoisett Select Board on May 19.
Andrew Romano
Fairhaven Select Board Member
The voters of Mattapoisett have an exciting opportunity to elect a real community champion to the Select Board this May. Frances- Feliz Kearns puts 100% into everything she does, and truly goes above and beyond to make sure ALL voices are heard, not just her supporters. As a member of the Select Board in Fairhaven, I am excited for the opportunity to collaborate with Frances in efforts to work with our legislators to make sure the SouthCoast is being best served. She knows the inner workings of the system, and I have no doubt she will work around the clock to get the job done. She has my full endorsement.
Betsy Stewart
ORR District School Committee,
Mattapoisett Representative
I am proud to endorse Frances-Feliz Kearns as a candidate for the Mattapoisett Select Board. Both Frances and I are current members of the Old Rochester Regional District School Committee. Personally, she has been a motivator, mentor, and friend. She encouraged my engagement in local politics and has been a key supporter ever since. As a sitting member of the school committee, Frances brings a thoughtful approach to finding ways to collaboratively solve complex matters. Armed with facts and research, she successfully leads in resolving budget issues and negotiating annual teacher contracts. She brings both common sense and a thoughtful approach to challenging discussions while making policy decisions that affect and enhance student experience. Her persistence, patience, and humor invite others to the table to negotiate in good faith. Her accomplishments in this role are many. She has reconciled regional budgets, participated in union contract negotiations, and met with both school administration and municipal stakeholders. She guides teams to shape policies that positively impact students, families, and the broader community. Her advice is valued when hiring key administrators and setting school policy. Her positive relationships with state legislators have brought resources back to our local school, including recently securing $405,000 in FY26 state budget amendments. This windfall will go a long way in ensuring the district continues to make much-needed improvements to school infrastructure, and Frances will lead while overseeing that staff operates as efficiently and effectively as possible. She gives back to the town in several ways, notably as a board member of the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library. Through fundraising and active promotion of library services, she helps support a cherished community resource to enrich the lives of its patrons with free and equitable access to knowledge and resources. She is passionately involved in ensuring the rights of others and can often be found writing postcards, holding a sign, engaging in civil discourse, or sharing her generous smile with those she meets. Her many volunteer activities highlight the person she is – one who cares deeply about her family, her local community, and the world at large. As if this wasn’t enough, Frances holds a full-time job as a scientist and, along with her husband, is raising two well-rounded teenagers. Her experience in both of these roles offers endless experience in negotiations and relationship building. She understands the importance of finding common ground, making thoughtful decisions, and just simply getting things done. I am positive she will be an energized and effective member of the Mattapoisett Select Board.
Jeanne Hopkins
Mattapoisett Library Trustee, Mattapoisett Cultural Council
I’m proud to personally endorse Frances Kearns for the Mattapoisett Select Board. As a fellow community volunteer and Library Board of Trustees member, I’ve watched Frances show up for this town again and again—with preparation, humility, and a genuine commitment to listening. On the School Committee, Frances has taken on some of the toughest, least glamorous work: navigating regional budgets, negotiating fair and sustainable contracts across multiple bargaining units, and helping bring significant state resources—more than $1 million—back to Mattapoisett. She does this with a calm, collaborative style that keeps the focus on students, families, and taxpayers rather than politics. What stands out most to me is her ability to build trust across different viewpoints, ask smart questions, and do the behind-the-scenes work that actually gets things done. Those skills, combined with her professional background in negotiations and cross-functional leadership, are exactly what we need on the Select Board as Mattapoisett grows and faces increasingly complex decisions. I have every confidence that Frances will bring the same integrity, thoughtfulness, and follow-through to the Select Board that she has already shown in her public service to our town.
Eileen J. Marum
Marion Planning Board, Mattapoisett Women's Club
I am proud to offer my wholehearted endorsement of my friend, Ms. Frances Kearns, for the Mattapoisett Select Board. Having worked closely with her, I have seen firsthand the depth of her leadership, her integrity, and her unwavering commitment to the community. Ms. Kearns brings a collaborative approach that has defined her service on the School Committee. She has consistently created space for diverse viewpoints, built consensus among stakeholders, and ensured that decisions were grounded in facts, transparency, and long‑term community benefit. Whether navigating regional budget negotiations, participating in the hiring of key administrators, or working through complex contract discussions across multiple bargaining units, she has shown an ability to bring people together while never losing sight of what is best for Mattapoisett. Her work on the School Committee also demonstrates her ability to manage complexity with clarity and purpose. She has taken on issues that require deep research, careful listening, and thoughtful judgment. Her efforts to secure over $1 million in state funding reflect not only her persistence but her ability to translate strategy into tangible results for the town. That track record of delivering meaningful outcomes is one of the strongest indicators of what she will bring to the Select Board. Professionally, Ms. Kearns has built a career grounded in negotiation, relationship‑building, and cross‑functional collaboration. Those strengths are exactly what effective municipal leadership requires. She knows how to find common ground without compromising core values, how to ask the right questions, and how to move complex initiatives forward with both discipline and empathy. Her communication style is another defining strength. She listens actively, communicates clearly, and engages in respectful, productive debate. She has a demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, build trust, and ensure that decisions are well-reasoned and accessible to the public. These qualities are essential for a Select Board member who must balance transparency, accountability, and community engagement. Ms. Kearns also brings a deep understanding of Mattapoisett’s mission, bylaws, and strategic priorities. She knows the town’s history and its challenges, and she approaches every issue with a commitment to aligning decisions with the long‑term interests of residents. As municipalities face evolving pressures, from economic shifts to regulatory changes to new technologies, she has shown the adaptability and steady judgment needed to navigate uncertainty and guide the town forward.
Jaymison Gunshel
Director and Chair of the South Coast
Young Democrats
The South Coast Young Democrats are proud to announce the official endorsement of Frances Kearns for the Mattapoisett Select Board. Kearns’ dedication to the town of Mattapoisett and the youth has been evident throughout her career. As a School Committee Member, Kearns has proven to be a leader capable of bridging gaps between groups and collaborating to achieve the best possible solution. Her track record of delivering results and focusing on practical solutions speaks for itself. Kearns’ work at both the local and state levels of government has yielded tangible results for the community, bringing over $1,000,000 back to programs that directly benefit the town. At a time when the very fabric of this nation is being tested, the next generation deserves leaders who care, prioritize the people, and invest in the future. Kearns brings the energy, integrity, and forward-thinking leadership to meet our moment and preserve the community we know and love. We wish her luck in all to come.
Eddie Gonet IV
ORRHS '22, Harvard University '26
I had the pleasure of working alongside Frances on the Old Rochester School Committee while serving as a Student Representative. She was an extremely dedicated member who consistently advocated for students and the community. As a student, I always felt welcomed and supported by her kindness and warmth. Furthermore, I am impressed by her ability to deliver on her commitments, including negotiating contracts and securing state funding. Frances' dedication to our community is unwavering, and she would make an excellent member of the Mattapoisett Select Board.
Beth Andrews
President, Friends of the Mattapoisett Library
There are many reasons to recommend Frances-Feliz Kearns for the position of select board. She's a professional, a well-educated woman, and a wonderful mother. She supports her community through her work with the school board and I know she'll do a wonderful job on the select board, but that's not the reason I'm endorsing her. As the president of the friends of the Mattapoisett Library I've had the pleasure of working closely with Frances on our board. It is the way that Frances enables everyone to be seen and heard that impresses me so much. Regardless of their standing in the community, financial means, educational background, or political expertise, they are seen and heard. This is a unique quality that sets Frances apart She's always there to listen and to encourage, and to support peoples varied opinions. This is the type of leadership we need in our community. In addition to her unsurpassed skill set, it is Frances’ ability to support everyone from all walks of life that drives my endorsement for our select board.
Jordan Latham
Vacant Property Development Manager,
City of New Bedford
I am thrilled to endorse my friend Frances-Feliz Kearns for the Mattapoisett Select Board. Six years ago, Frances stepped up to serve on the ORR School Committee at one of the most difficult moments in recent memory; guiding the district through the pandemic, wrestling with budgets stretched thin by rising costs and inadequate state funding, and advocating at the State House for the resources our students deserve. As a brilliant engineer and woman in STEM, Frances brings a sharp problem-solving mindset to every challenge she takes on -- exactly the kind of thinking Mattapoisett needs as municipalities across the state face serious and growing economic pressures. But what sets Frances apart isn't just her skill set. It's the warmth and genuine care she brings to everything she does for this community. She is a neighbor, a listener, and a leader who understands that behind every budget line and policy decision are real people and families. Mattapoisett is lucky to have her, and I am proud to call her my friend. Vote Frances!
Cristin Cowles
Mattapoisett School Committee
Another yes vote for me. My first interaction with Frances-Feliz was years ago when I cold reached out to her on FB re: what kind of commitment school committee was (I had never met her at the time). I was struck by her response....which was essentially that it should be a big commitment. Her direct answer made me realize it was not the right time for me to get involved. Years passed and I found the time, but I have always remembered her response. It's how she approaches our community and its challenges, which is a reflection of her dedication.