Hi, I'm Beth Coger, and I’m proud to serve as the Justice of the Peace for District 19 in Washington County
I ran for office because I believe in transparency, accountability, and making sure everyday people have a voice in local government. As your JP, I sit on the Quorum Court — the legislative branch of county government — where I work to make sure our tax dollars are spent wisely and our county runs fairly.
I’m not a career politician — I’m your neighbor, and I care deeply about this community. Whether it’s speaking up for working families, asking the hard questions, or helping folks understand how local government works, I’m here to serve you. Thanks for stopping by — I’m glad you’re here.
ISSUES
Washington County faces many complex and interconnected challenges — from public safety and housing insecurity to economic inequality and access to essential services. While it's difficult to narrow these issues down to just a few, I believe these four priorities will have the most meaningful impact and deliver the strongest results for our community:
01
STRONG BUDGET OVERSIGHT
One of the most important jobs of the Quorum Court is to be good stewards of your tax dollars. It takes money to keep our community going, and we’re one of the wealthiest counties in the state. We have the resources, we just have to decide what our priorities are.
02
DATA BACKED DECISIONS
Let's move away from voting on party lines and vote using facts. I will never vote on an issue if I haven't done my research or heard from the community. I will base my votes on data, facts, evidence, and proven strategies that are already working.
03
TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIVE LEADERSHIP
We, as elected officials, have an obligation to continually share information with the community. Government works best when the community is informed and involved. I will work to increase the use of technology to improve transparency and accountability.
04
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
​I firmly believe that the only way to address our high over-incarceration rate is through real criminal justice reform.  In 2020 Washington County paid for a study conducted by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) which said we would only need to expand our jail if we do nothing.  The Sheriff/Jail Maintenance & Operations make up 34% of our entire 2025 budget of $127M+. That is not sustainable.  It is not making our community safer and it is, in fact, harming our community. Instead of investing millions in jail expansions, we should focus on implementing effective reforms such as a robust pretrial services program, issuing citations in lieu of arrests for low-level offenses, considering an individual's ability to pay when setting bail, and offering a real pretrial services program.  By prioritizing these reforms over costly jail expansions, we can build a justice system that truly serves and protects all members of our community.​
GET INVOLVED
The full QC meets the third Thursday of every month.
Join me at the next Quorum Court Meeting
There is a 15-minute public comment period where the public may address the court and bring forth any concerns they may have. These minutes are valuable and we need to hear from you! That’s how we learn and can gather much valuable information from the community.
Please attend County Quorum Court meetings. Believe me, your support will be much appreciated.
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Wedding Ceremonies with Justice of the Peace Beth Coger
I’m Beth Coger, Justice of the Peace for District 9 in Washington County, Arkansas, and I am honored to perform wedding ceremonies. Everyone is welcome!
There is no fee for the ceremony, but in lieu of payment, I kindly ask that you consider donating to any animal shelter. Here's a link to one great option: Humane Society of the Ozarks, but any animal shelter will appreciate your support.​
Please note: I do not perform weddings on weekends unless they are at the Washington County Detention Center. The Detention Center allows ceremonies on Saturday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM only.