Shawn M. Morse is serving his second term in the Albany County Legislature as the representative of residents of the 18th Legislative District. The district encompasses the eastern portion of the City of Cohoes and a section of the Town of Colonie at the western boundary of the Village of Green Island.

Shawn is a Deputy Majority Leader of the Legislature, Chair of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Civic Center and Law Committees. He previously served on the Health and Mass Transit Committees.

A Cohoes firefighter since 1989, Shawn is past president of the Uniformed Firefighters Local 2562 and recipient of the 2002 Medal for Bravery for rescuing a senior trapped inside a burning apartment building. In cooperation with the Cohoes Fire Department's Cheer-for-Children program, Shawn created the "Santa Comes to Town" program to deliver toys to needy children on Christmas Eve from aboard a fire truck and the "$911/$226" college scholarship program for Cohoes High School graduates in lasting memory of the victims of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks and four members of Fire Engine Co. 226 of Brooklyn who lost their lives that day.

Shawn has advocated on behalf of children and seniors during his tenure in the Legislature. He co-authored the County's residency restrictions for sexual predators convicted of crimes against minors, prohibiting them from living within 1,000 feet of schools and childcare facilities, and worked for enactment of legislation giving judges the option of ordering sex offenders to wear GPS electronic tracking devices as part of their probation. He strongly opposed the State Berger Commission recommendations reducing the County's nursing home capacity from 450 to 250 beds, and personally interceded on behalf of families seeking the return of their loved ones sent to skilled nursing facilities out of state.

Shawn was responsible for securing $17,100 in County funds for the Cohoes Community Center and $5,000 for the Counseling Care and Services, Inc., which provides therapy and counseling for youths, families and seniors. He also was instrumental in obtaining $7,000 from the District Attorney's Office for the Cohoes Police Department to purchase Internet services and equipment giving police instant information on criminal suspects.

He is a graduate of Cohoes High School and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in industrial labor relations and public policy at Empire State College. He holds a certificate in labor studies from Cornell University and earned an A.A.S. Degree in labor management from Empire State College.

Active in his community, Shawn is a member of Cohoes Care Takers, Cohoes Little League and Cohoes Community Center. In addition to advocating for programs protecting seniors and children, Shawn supports workers rights, open government and reform of the public assistance, health care and prescription drug programs.

Shawn is the father of two children, Christopher and Madison Morse.