Baltimore needs nonpartisan primary elections

Having moved here from the West, where municipal elections are almost all nonpartisan, I urge the Baltimore City Council to consider eliminating party ballot designations.

Instead, allow anyone, regardless of party affiliation, to file for whatever office they wish. Then let the two top vote-getters in the September primary face off against each other in the November general election.

Continuing to have separate Republican primaries for a mere handful of voters is wasteful and meaningless in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 9-1.

The public would be far better served by having the top two primary race winners debate the issues in November.

Michael Schaefer, Baltimore