Omaha Republicans have picked up a political slot they haven’t held in years, and they have a Democrat to thank.

[View our full video report above]

Here’s something you haven’t seen for a decade.

A Republican named to one of the city council’s top leadership posts.

Northwest Omaha’s Aimee Melton the council’s new vice-president.

A move made possible by a councilman who wasn’t even here.

For the last several weeks South Omaha’s Vinny Palermo has been sitting in jail, awaiting trial in Lincoln Federal Court accused of fraud and corruption charges. 

And his empty seat on the council has left the seven-member board with three Democrats and three Republicans, all but forcing the six to cut some kind of a deal in order to move forward for the next two years.

And the deal, done by secret ballot, apparently boiled down to this, Melton voted in for vice-president, while Democrat Pete Festersen keeps his slot as President, a unanimous 6-0 vote.

As we first reported Melton, the council's longest serving Republican, told NCN she'd "like to be (council) President but with a three to three" split she's "willing to compromise for the VP seat,” which she won; Democrat Juanita Johnson getting one vote, five for Melton.

As for Palermo, who was vice-president until the council stripped him of the title, even while in jail, he keeps the seat but time 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 still politically divided council.