DUP councillor Ruth Patterson plans to see out her term as a Belfast councillor though she has conceded that being snubbed by the DUP for the assembly has prompted "plenty of soul searching".
It had been speculated that Ms Patterson was going to leave politics over the snub.
The outspoken councillor, who narrowly missed out on an assembly seat at the last election, told The Irish News she was "shocked and surprised" by last week's co-option of Emma Pengelly to the vacant South Belfast seat, given that the former Stormont special adviser "had no affiliation with the constituency".
Mrs Pengelly, who up until last week worked in Peter Robinson's office, replaced Jimmy Spratt in the assembly.
Ms Patterson has been a DUP member for almost 20 years and has served on councillor for 14 years.
The 59-year-old, who in 2013 was prosecuted over remarks she made online about an imagined republican parade, said she had harboured aspirations to represent South Belfast at Stormont.
"The 3,800 votes at the last election speaks volumes and I'd certainly thought about succeeding Jimmy because it seemed like a natural progression," she said.
"I absolutely would have relished the opportunity to serve the constituency at that level."
Mrs Patterson said she planned to see out her three-and-a-half year terms as a councillor but she did say that there would be "plenty of soul searching" over the coming weeks, including seeking the advice of her mother.
"I have to say I was shocked and surprised by Emma Pengelly's appointment," she said.
"It was quite overwhelming given that her name had never been mentioned in relation to the seat."
