Sitting in jail with his future in doubt a top Omaha Democrat has given local Republicans a political opportunity they have not seen in years.

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For the last several weeks the City Council seat held by South Omaha 's Vinnie Palermo has sat empty.

Palermo is behind bars awaiting trial accused of federal fraud and corruption charges. 

And while he remains on the 7-member council, by a vote of 5-1 he's been stripped of his role as vice president.

For the last decade Democrats have held a slim four to three majority on the council giving them control of both the council's top leadership posts the vice presidency and presidency. 

But with Palermo's chair empty it's three Democrats and three Republicans, so the two sides are all but forced to cut some kind of deal to move forward when the council meets Tuesday to vote on the leadership slots for the next two years. 

Asked by News Channel Nebraska if he wants another term at the top Democrat President Pete Festersen says, "We're discussing the next leadership election as a group and I'm confident we'll achieve a good consensus."

The council's longest serving Republican, Aimee Melton, tells News Channel Nebraska she'd "like to be (council) President but with a three to three" split she's "willing to compromise for the VP seat."

Regardless of Tuesday's vote Palermo's time on the council is rapidly running out.  According to city rules, if he can't make a meeting by late July, he forfeits his seat, and his successor will be named by the council, the politically divided council.