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Elizabeth Monette "Beth" Coggs (born December 4, 1956) is an American community organizer and Democratic politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 10th Assembly district from 2011 to 2013. She previously served 12 years on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, from 1988 to 2010. Both of her parents, Isaac N. Coggs and Marcia P. Coggs, also served in the State Assembly. Her cousin, Spencer Coggs, also served in the Assembly and the Wisconsin Senate.

She was previously known as Elizabeth Coggs-Jones during her marriage to Wendell Jones.

Background

Elizabeth Monette Coggs was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Coggs is a lifelong Milwaukee resident. Her father, Isaac Newton Coggs, was one of the third African-Americans elected to the State Assembly (in 1952) and the first African American elected to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors (in 1964). Her mother, Marcia Priscilla Young Coggs, was the first African-American woman elected to Wisconsin State Assembly (in 1976). Elizabeth graduated from Lincoln High School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in African-American studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Elizabeth continues the family tradition of serving in elective office which has spanned generations. Issac Coggs, Elizabeth's father, was one of the third African Americans elected to the State Assembly in 1952 and served until 1963. In 1964 he was elected as the first African American SupMilwaukee County Boardervisor. Marcia P. Coggs, Elizabeth's mother, served in the Assembly from 1977 to 1991. Spencer Coggs served as State Representative, State Senator and now City of Milwaukee treasure and Leon Young, served as a Wisconsin State Representative for over thirty years, retiring in 2019. Elizabeth's Aunt Verdis J. Young Robinson was the first African American female to serve in both the Wyandotte County Commissioner of Kansas City, Kansas and also the first African American woman to be elected the State of Kansans Legislature. State Representative Broderick Henderson is Elizabeth's cousin also and he presently serves in the Kansas Legislature. Lastly Milele A. Coggs is serving for eleven years as a City of Milwaukee Alderwoman, elected in 2008 and presently is Chairwoman of the powerful Finance Committee for the city of Milwaukee; all of these who are Elizabeth's relatives, currently serve in the Assembly and Senate.

Both Issac and Marcia Coggs have had county and health buildings named after them in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee County Human Services Center is named after Marcia Coggs and the Milwaukee Health Services has named the Isaac Coggs Health Center is named in his honor. The Coggs Living Legacy continues, started by Isaac Newton Coggs in 1952, that is one of the only African American Family serving the public through elected and political service in the United States with over 150 years of collective elective leadership for African Americans in Wisconsin and Kansas.

Politics

Milwaukee County Board

She was first elected a county supervisor in 1988, being re-elected from 1992-2008. As of 2010 she was the longest-serving member of the County Board.

State Assembly

In 2010 she defeated two other candidates, Stephanie Findley and Sherman Hill to win the primary election for the State Assembly, in the 10th District after Annette Polly Williams announced that she was not running for election.

Her only opponent was independent Ieshuh Griffin, who attracted national attention (including an appearance on The Daily Show) for eventually unsuccessful efforts to label herself as "NOT the 'whiteman's bitch'" (utilizing a state rule that allows independent candidates to use a five-word statement of purpose on the ballot to categorize themselves) on the election ballot. Coggs received 15,874 votes; Griffin 1223.

2010 See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010 Coggs defeated Independent Ieshuh Griffin in the November 2 general election. Coggs was opposed in the primary election by Stephanie Findley and Sherman Hill.

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 10 General Election (2010)

Candidates Votes

• Elizabeth Coggs (D)

15,874

• Ieshuh Griffin (I) 1,223

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 10 Democratic primary (2010) Candidates Votes Percent

• Elizabeth M. Coggs (D)

2,613 66.45%

• Stephanie Findley (D) 1,039 26.42%
• Sherman L. Hill (D) 268 6.82%

Campaign themes According to Coggs' campaign website, her focus is on faith, hope and harmony.

Committee assignments 2011-2012 In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Coggs served on these committees:

• Aging and Long-Term Care Committee
• Consumer Protection Committee
• Urban and Local Affairs Committee

State Senate

In 2012, instead of running for re-election to the Assembly, she chose to run for the vacant Sixth District State Senate seat previously held by her cousin Spencer Coggs. Her July 2012 call to the mostly-black voters at an inner-city candidate forum to "vote for someone who looks like you" led to accusations that she was attacking Assemblywoman Sandy Pasch, the only white candidate in the race to replace Coggs in her 10th Assembly district seat (Pasch's current seat was eliminated by the Republican-led legislature during the most recent redistricting, and she had moved into the new 10th district). All her opponents were African-American, but several African-American candidates at the forum decried her remarks as racist. None of Pasch's opponents had held elected office. "I don't think anyone should vote for anyone on account of their skin color", opponent Ieshuh Griffin said of Coggs' remarks. "It's not about color."

Coggs' predecessor, Polly Williams, describing Pasch as "a White suburban woman" who "can't win in her own district", expressed concern that inner-city seats such as hers could be lost to white Democrats due to alleged machinations by "non-Black forces from outside the community". She lost the Democratic primary (tantamount to election in this inner-city seat) to County Supervisor Nikiya Harris. The 10th district Democratic nomination was taken by Pasch, with over 60% of the vote.

Personal life

Elizabeth Coggs was married to Wendell Jones (they divorced in 2008), and is the mother of Priscilla, Chloé and Devona. She belongs to the Church of God in Christ. Another cousin, Leon Young, was a state legislator.

References

1. "Wisconsin State Legislature". Archived from the original on 2011-02-26. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
2. Elizabeth Coggs' Biography, Vote Smart. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
3. Shultze, Steve. "Special election for Coggs' County Board seat is April 5", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 22, 2010.
4. Tolan, Tom. "Coggs wins nomination for Williams' seat in Assembly", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 14, 2010.
5. Stein, Jason and Patrick Marley. "Court rejects candidate's lawsuit over ballot slogan:Federal judge doesn't rule on merits of case", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 5, 2010.
6. "Wisconsin Government Accountability Board 2010 election results report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
7. Stephenson, Crocker. "Coggs' 'looks like you' quote starts debate; Advice to voters irritates some at candidate forum", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 28, 2012
8. Mitchell, Thomas E., Jr. "Williams: 'We have to fight to keep control of the seats we have'; Former legislator urges community support Black candidates during August 14 election Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine", Milwaukee Community Journal, July 20, 2012
9. Henzl, Ann-Elise. "Nikiya Harris wins Bid for Spencer Coggs' Senate Seat Archived 2014-10-19 at the Wayback Machine" WUWM August 14, 2012
10. "CBS 58 Election Results". WDJT-TV. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012.
11. Bice, Daniel. "No Quarter:Family feud" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 11, 2009.

External links

• Official assembly website

• Living people
• 1956 births
• African-American state legislators in Wisconsin
• County supervisors in Wisconsin
• Politicians from Milwaukee
• University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni
• Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Women state legislators in Wisconsin
• 21st-century American women politicians
• 21st-century African-American women politicians
• 21st-century African-American politicians
• 20th-century African-American politicians
• 20th-century African-American women politicians
• 20th-century American women politicians
• 21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature