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Matt Kopac is from Durham, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, international relations, and political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on strategy, sustainability, and community economic development from Yale University. He lives in Durham with his wife Sarah and their children.

Matt currently works as a senior sustainability advisor at Pure Strategies, Inc. He previously held sustainability leadership roles at Beautycounter and Burt’s Bees, directed corporate responsibility at iContact, consulted with VisionSpring, worked as a policy associate at Rapoza Associates, and served in the Peace Corps.

Matt Kopac - Ballotpedia

After Progressive Stands, Freeman Faces Multiple Challengers for ...

Matt Kopac's campaign for Durham City Council Member, Ward 1, is his first entry into politics. He previously ran for Durham County Commissioner in 2020 but did not win.

Wants to diversify the tax base to reduce tax pressure on low-income and fixed-income homeowners.

- Wants to diversify the tax base to reduce tax pressure on low-income and fixed-income homeowners.

Economy

Supports maintaining free bus service and expanding local and regional transit.

Supports protecting and promoting Durham's arts and cultural heritage to boost local economic development.

- Supports maintaining free bus service and expanding local and regional transit.
- Supports protecting and promoting Durham's arts and cultural heritage to boost local economic development.

Public Services

Supports fighting displacement through programs that provide home repairs, low-income homeowner support, energy efficiency, eviction diversion, and legal aid.

Supports identifying public land and brokering public-private partnerships to build more long-term affordable units.

Supports producing more affordable units and "missing middle housing" through local revolving construction loan programs, streamlined permitting for pre-approved affordable designs, and a revised Unified Development Ordinance.

Supports fostering locally responsive housing development by small-scale local developers.

Supports public-led commercial development targeted to support local businesses and local income neighborhoods.

Supports promoting economic mobility and justice to ensure Durham residents can afford diverse housing options, and plans to continue workforce development and guaranteed income programs to achieve this goal.

- Supports fighting displacement through programs that provide home repairs, low-income homeowner support, energy efficiency, eviction diversion, and legal aid.
- Supports identifying public land and brokering public-private partnerships to build more long-term affordable units.
- Supports producing more affordable units and "missing middle housing" through local revolving construction loan programs, streamlined permitting for pre-approved affordable designs, and a revised Unified Development Ordinance.
- Supports fostering locally responsive housing development by small-scale local developers.
- Supports public-led commercial development targeted to support local businesses and local income neighborhoods.
- Supports promoting economic mobility and justice to ensure Durham residents can afford diverse housing options, and plans to continue workforce development and guaranteed income programs to achieve this goal.

Housing & Urban Development

Believes in addressing root causes of violence, such as economic and housing insecurity and racial injustice.

Supports expanding the HEART program, which pairs mental health professionals with police officers, to address more non-violent situations.

Supports implementing Vision Zero to protect pedestrians and cyclists from traffic fatalities and injuries, including calming more streets and adding more sidewalks and protected bike lanes.

- Believes in addressing root causes of violence, such as economic and housing insecurity and racial injustice.
- Supports expanding the HEART program, which pairs mental health professionals with police officers, to address more non-violent situations.
- Supports implementing Vision Zero to protect pedestrians and cyclists from traffic fatalities and injuries, including calming more streets and adding more sidewalks and protected bike lanes.

Public Safety

As of October 8, 2025, Matt Kopac’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As a co-chair of the Durham Public School Foundation, advocated for digital equity in schools.

- As a co-chair of the Durham Public School Foundation, advocated for digital equity in schools.

Education

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Matt Kopac

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 