Matias Kopinsky

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Matias Kopinsky

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

University of Texas at Austin, 2018

Personal

Birthplace

Houston, Texas

Religion

Jewish

Profession

Petroleum engineer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Matias Kopinsky ran for election to the Houston Independent School District to represent District I in Texas. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Kopinsky completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Matias Kopinsky was born in Houston, Texas. Kopinsky's professional experience includes working as a petroleum engineer, researcher, librarian, and lifeguard. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018.

Kopinsky has been affiliated with the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Chevron Millennial Society, and Chevron Hispanic Society.

Elections

2021

See also: Houston Independent School District, Texas, elections (2021)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Houston Independent School District, District I

Incumbent Elizabeth Santos defeated Janette Garza Lindner in the general runoff election for Houston Independent School District, District I on December 11, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Elizabeth Santos (Nonpartisan)	50.5	2,223
		Janette Garza Lindner (Nonpartisan)	49.5	2,175

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,398
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for Houston Independent School District, District I

Incumbent Elizabeth Santos and Janette Garza Lindner advanced to a runoff. They defeated Matias Kopinsky in the general election for Houston Independent School District, District I on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Elizabeth Santos (Nonpartisan)	41.6	3,940
✔		Janette Garza Lindner (Nonpartisan)	35.0	3,315
		Matias Kopinsky (Nonpartisan)	23.5	2,225

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,480
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Matias Kopinsky completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kopinsky's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Living in America as the son of Argentinian immigrants has taught me many life lessons. One of the most important lessons has been to "acordate de donde venis (remember where you come from)." Speaking Spanish as my first language in addition to English enables me to connect with more members of the community . There is nothing more exciting in my life to have the opportunity to give back to the community I call home. Now that I am a working professional, I have accumulated some necessary resources and life experience. I have decided to fight for high quality of education and transparent ethical standards, by running for a position on the Houston ISD Board of Trustees.

I have attended public school my whole life. They were all neighborhood schools: Herod Elementary, Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School, and Bellaire High School. These schools shaped me to be the person I am today by engaging me in critical thinking with diverse perspectives.

After attending HISD k-12, I paid my own way through college, earning a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. I returned to Houston in 2018 to work at Chevron as a Petroleum Engineer, researching more environmentally friendly ways of extracting oil and gas. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Petroleum Engineering at The University of Houston. The skills I have learned in my professional roles have enabled me to be ready to make the jump to represent District I on the HISD Board of Education.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Keeping money in schools
• Retaining Top Educator Talent
• Push for better health insurance for all district employees

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The board has made numerous controversial decisions in recent years and appears to be swayed more by its campaign contributors than the needs of our fellow constituents. Every few years, vendors can donate an increased amount to campaign contributions, which leads the board to be more influenced by its campaign contributors instead of taking into account the needs of its individual communities.

Being an outsider and not working in education means that I have no biases. I have no obligation to any source that seeks to profit from HISD and its students. I pledge not to accept any donation from those who want to do business with HISD. I will do my best to prevent anyone from enriching themselves at the expense of our students.. As a trustee, I will strengthen ethics rules while decreasing the campaign contribution cap to pre- 2016 levels.

While the current HISD trustees have been responsible for a $2 billion budget, only half of that money has ever seen the classroom. The board continuously votes to decrease the percentage of money that is spent on its most valuable assets: its teachers. Educators are what make up the backbone of the district and should be compensated properly.

As a trustee, I will use my youth and energy to work tirelessly on ensuring that all employees on campuses are properly compensated for their work. This will put our tax dollars where they are meant to be: with our children.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am honest and caring. I am a good person. When a friend of mine is need, I try my best to help them out. This is all equivalent to being a good leader and officeholder. If you care for your constituents and are transparent with them, then they will be willing to tell me what challenges they face in their schools. This relationship with faculty and parents will enable me to better the district.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a soccer referee from the ages of 11-18. I originally started reffing games of the U-7 and U-8 level, and later moved up all the way to the open division. This job taught me leadership and how to hold my ground. I was able to keep this job through middle and high school due to games being on Saturdays and Sundays. I would usually ref about 4-6 hours a weekend among working other part time jobs.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Glass Castle. This book inspired me to be the best person I can be. There are numerous challenges in life one faces, but when one approaches them, the choice is very clear. You either face your challenges or run away from them. The story shows how someone who has been through challenges her whole life, was still able to succeed due to her perseverance. Oh, I also met the author in 10th grade, which was awesome.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary job of a school board member should be to better education for all children. That is the reason to serve. Education is the gateway out of poverty, and with a nonbiased, uncorrupt school board, there is a chance to benefit all children.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

Attend PTO/PTA meetings. I would also hold open office hours on zoom in order to answer questions parents may have.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2021 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

Documenting America's Path to Recovery The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Houston Independent School District, District I

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Personal

Facebook

LinkedIn