Before the next big moonpie drops (or rises) over the city in 2010, District One Councilman Fred “Moonpie” Richardson will have to defeat administrative assistant Yasmin Coker in the citywide municipal elections on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

A lifelong resident of the district, Coker, 38, has launched an “exploratory campaign” Web site, http://www.nlovingmemoryof.com/yasmincokercitycouncil1/home.html where she states her desire to run for the seat arose from her conversations with District One residents who have becoming increasingly “disillusioned with politics and politicians.” She also promises be a “new voice” and bring “new and fresh ideas” to the table, while “questioning the financial responsibility of the government” with taxpayer dollars.

Coker graduated from McGill-Toolen in 1989, Bishop State in 1991 and the University of South Alabama in 2000. A member of Mt. Hebron Church ministries, she has been married to her husband, Derek, for eight-and-a-half years. They have two daughters.

Richardson began his council career in February 1997, when he was appointed to fill the space vacated by Vivian Davis Figures when she was elected to the state senate. He has run three subsequent and successful campaigns since his appointment – in August 1997, 2001 and 2005.