Nick Berry: Partisan elections produce an engaged democracy. Annapolis must keep them.

Scott Gibson is a Republican candidate for Ward 2 seat on City Council to replace the affable Fred Paone who is retiring. Gibson testified before the Charter Review Commission, recommending that the City Charter be amended to institute non-partisan elections. This would allow anyone wanting to run — Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, and Non-affiliated — to just pay $60 and fill out a candidate form designating the office sought. Only parties with 10 percent of registered voters could participate in primaries, now Republican, Democrat, and Green.