ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, kˈoʊplɪn wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ðə luːˌiːzɪˈænə hˈaʊs ʌv ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz fɹʌm nˈuː ˈɔːɹliənzᵻz lˈoʊɚ nˈaɪnθ wˈɔːɹd.
In 1986, Copelin was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives from New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward.