For that to happen, though, Council President Anna Verna must call a special election. And she's shown zero interest in doing so.

"I have known Florence Cohen for many years and have the greatest respect for her, as I did for the councilman," Verna said in a prepared statement. "However, I am inclined not to call for a special election to fill the vacant council-at-large seat at this time."

Cohen had hoped the March 17 conviction of Seventh District Councilman Rick Mariano would motivate Verna to call special elections for two vacant seats at once. (Although Mayor Street has urged Mariano to resign, at press time he had not.)

The Florence-Cohen-for-mayor camp wants Verna to hold the special election during the May 16 primary. In order to allow 30 days notice, Verna would have to announce her decision by April 16.

This morning, supporters plan to rally around Cohen at noon outside City Hall. Congressman Bob Brady was among the officials expected to speak, but communications director Karen Warrington said he would not attend due to a scheduling conflict. She did not return calls seeking comment on whether he supports Cohen's campaign.

In the case of a special election, Brady, head of the city Democrats, would have to call a meeting of ward leaders to pick a candidate.

Firmly planted in Cohen's corner are seven unions, including AFSCME District Council 47, whose boss, Thomas Paine Cronin, is her campaign manager. He's called Verna and Brady and hasn't received "even the courtesy of a call back."

In the meantime, two staffers are still answering phones in the late councilman's office. "Because someone has vacated office, it doesn't mean the constituents have vacated their needs," Cronin says.

Bill Greenlee, who has worked in the office for 26 years and is a ward leader, would likely be Cohen's only competition if Verna called the special election. (Environmental lawyer Sherrie Cohen, one of the Cohens' four children, and former Councilman Angel Ortiz are considering 2007 runs.)

As she waits for Verna to have a change of heart, Florence Cohen fields requests from people who say they need a Cohen in Council. "They need a fighter for their issues," she says, "and I'm such a fighter."