Michael J. Kopetski was born October 27, 1949 in Pendleton, Oregon. He attended public schools in Oregon and graduated from American University, Washington D.C. in 1971. Kopetski organized the campaign stop in Pendleton, Oregon for Presidential candidate Robert Kennedy in 1968. From 1973-1974 Kopetski worked as an aide to the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, better known as the “Watergate Committee.” He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976 and served as a committee administrator in the Oregon State Legislature in 1977-1979 and 1981. He was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1985 to 1989. Following two unsuccessful runs for Congress in 1982 and 1988, Kopetski ran successfully in 1990, defeating incumbent Republican Denny Smith. Kopetski was a member of the One Hundred Second and One Hundred Third Congresses (January 3, 1991-January 3, 1995) as a Democratic member. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1995.
Since leaving Congress, Kopetski has worked as a lobbyist. He lives in Virginia.
From the guide to the Michael J. Kopetski papers, 1976-1995, 1988-1995, (Willamette University University Archives and Special Collections)
