Florence Cohen will not be taking her late husband's spot in city government.
Cohen, 88, said that she will not run as an independent for City Council, after ward leaders did not select her as the official Democratic at-large candidate for the Nov. 7 special election.
Her husband, David, died in office last fall at the age of 90.
City Council President Anna Verna called the special election earlier this month in response to the vacancies in three Council seats, including David Cohen's.
Because Verna did not call the special election until September - thereby eliminating the possibility of a primary - ward leaders selected the party nominees, as per state election laws.
"I don't think it's the fairest way to do things," Cohen said of the nomination process. "I think it would be better to find some way to discuss with the people of the district the choice of their candidate."
Candidates not selected for party nominations can still opt to run as independent contenders.
