CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson is launching an effort to find a new alderperson for the 35th Ward, but one candidate is calling the effort a charade.

The mayor recently appointed ally Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa to a new role, leading the Chicago Park District.

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Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada is among those publicly seeking the seat.

But, he’s faced criticism over an offensive social media post from several years ago.

Candidates must live in the 35th Ward.

Applications will be accepted through next Monday.

A committee, headed by Alderwoman Michelle Harris, will then make a suggestion to the mayor, who will then make the choice.

“The 35th Ward deserves to be represented by a leader who has deep ties to the community and reflects the values of the residents in the 35th Ward,” Johnson said in a statement. “I trust that these community leaders will find a suitable candidate to represent the hardworking people of the 35th ward.”

Johnson said he wants the process to be fair and open.

But, that process is coming under fire as a charade, with Quezada seeming to have an inside track on the appointment.

The mayor is not saying it publicly, but all indications are that Quezada is his choice to be the next alderman in the 35th Ward.

One of the other candidates says the whole vetting process to find the replacement seems disingenuous.

“I don’t necessarily like the way that things are being done, and kind of the charade that’s taking place. And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could do a better job,” candidate Daniel Tobon said.

Tobon is an entrepreneur and Army veteran who took part in a community meeting on Sunday, hosted by the United Neighbors of the 35th Ward: an organization founded by Ramirez-Rosa, whose office is right next-door.

Ramirez-Rosa shares the office with Quezada, who reportedly got 100% of the vote in Sunday’s meeting.

Quezada spent days last week wooing the Aldermanic Black Caucus, after an 11-year-old tweet in which he used racial slur resurfaced.

Tobon and others believe the replacement process is all for show.

“The mayor has every right to appoint whoever he wants. He should just come out and say that instead of kind of building this Kabuki, this political theory, theater, to justify or make it seem like it’s more democratic than it is, right?” Tobon said. “I’m not trying to impugn anybody, but it’s clear that they had already selected Anthony, and are building a process to kind of justify that selection.”

But, while announcing the launch of his youth summer jobs program Tuesday, the mayor doubled down on his assertion that the process will be fair and transparent.

“Mayors before me have appointed individuals in the City Council, and that responsibility is something I take seriously,” Johnson said.

The mayor said he has a vision for the ward, calling for more investments in jobs and affordable housing and mental health care services.

The United Neighbors for the 35th defended their endorsement of Quezada, saying he was the only candidate to complete their questionnaire, and he represents the community’s values.

Visit www.chicago.gov for more information on the aldermanic vacancy.