Elizabeth M. Coggs

Elizabeth Coggs-Jones
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 10th district
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2013
Preceded by Annette Polly Williams
Succeeded by Sandy Pasch
Personal details
Born 1956
Belzoni, Mississippi
Political party Democratic
Residence Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.

Elizabeth M. Coggs (born 1956; also known as Elizabeth Coggs-Jones) is a Wisconsin Democratic politician. She served on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors as county supervisor for the 10th district from 1988-2010, and was from 2011-2012 a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, succeeding Annette Polly Williams.[1][2]

Background

Coggs is a lifelong Milwaukee resident. Her father, Isaac N. Coggs, was one of the first African-Americans elected to the State Assembly (in 1952) and the County Board (in 1964). Her mother, Marcia P. Coggs, was the first African-American woman elected to either house of the Wisconsin Legislature (in 1976). She graduated from Lincoln High School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Politics

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.[3]

State Assembly

In 2010 she defeated two other candidates 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.[4]

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.[5] Coggs received 15,874 votes; Griffin 1223.[6]

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 counsin 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."[7]

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".[8] She lost the Democratic primary (tantamount to election in this inner-city seat) to County Supervisor Nikiya Harris.[9] The 10th district Democratic nomination was taken by Pasch, with over 60% of the vote.[10]

Personal life

Elizabeth Coggs was married to Wendell Jones (they divorced in 2008[11]), and is the mother of Priscilla, Chloé and Devona. She belongs to the Church of God in Christ. Another cousin, Leon Young, is still a state legislator.

References

  1. ↑ http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Assembly&district=10&display=bio
  2. ↑ http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=99128
  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
  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" Milwaukee Community Journal July 20, 2012
  9. ↑ Henzl, Ann-Elise. "Nikiya Harris wins Bid for Spencer Coggs' Senate Seat" WUWM August 14, 2012
  10. ↑ CBS 58 Election Results
  11. ↑ Bice, Daniel "No Quarter:Family feud" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 11, 2009
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