It will all happen Feb. 25.

On that day, the Ward 1 Democratic Committee will endorse a candidate to replace departing Ward 1 Alderman Julio Gonzalez ’99, committee member Rob Smuts ’01 said.

Michael Montano ’03, Lex Paulson ’02, Anne Leone ’03 and Ben Healey ’04 are seeking to represent the ward, which includes Old Campus and eight of Yale’s 12 residential colleges. The winner of the endorsement will receive an automatic spot on the ballot for September’s primary election, while other candidates will have to gather signatures to mount a challenge.

Smuts said interested candidates must submit applications to the committee by Friday, adding the deadline will be advertised through posters.

After an optional informational meeting this Sunday, the nearly 50-person ward committee, whose membership remains unknown, will convene to interview the candidates in a meeting open to the public. The committee will then deliberate before announcing its endorsement. Smuts said the committee will decide Feb. 25 whether the deliberations will happen in public or behind closed doors.

–Charles Enloe