For more than three centuries, Groton citizens have packed into enclosed spaces for Town Meetings, “the oldest expression of democracy in the Western Hemisphere.” Voters who do not attend cannot debate or vote. With the proliferation of handheld tech and video conferencing, more and more voters are asking, “Why can’t I remotely participate in Town Meeting?” The Covid-19 crisis adds a whole new perspective. A previously scheduled talk about the future of Town Meeting has morphed into this online video conference exploration of the benefits and limitations of technology for legislative meetings led by Groton Town Moderator Jason Kauppi.
Jason Kauppi, a former spokesman for two Massachusetts governors and an award-winning political reporter, founded Kauppi Communications Inc. in 2001. With its unique formula of proactive PR strategy, crisis management and media training, Kauppi Communications has successfully fulfilled that need for dozens of high-profile clients across many sectors. Jason is the elected moderator in the Town of Groton, chairing the twice-annual Town Meetings. He also serves on the board of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for commonsense, conservative solutions to our nation’s energy needs. He is an active Rotarian, a corporator of Main Street Bank based in Marlborough, Mass., and past chairman of the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce.
