The Baltimore Democrat is no relation to the Republican spokesman and political consultant. They don't know each other, though the Republican Anderson does have an Annapolis office.
"Must be a young fella. Must be a smart fella. But he's working for the wrong party," the Dems' Anderson said.
The other Anderson did not return a call seeking comment.
Can I count on your vote, Dad?
State Sen. Bryan Simonaire, who championed legislation two years ago to keep lawmakers from giving state scholarships to their relatives, has found the proper time and place for nepotism. He's pushing a bill dreamed up by his 14-year-old son.
"Isaac Simonaire has been working this bill for the last several months," said a letter Simonaire sent to colleagues on official Senate stationery last month. "Isaac is planning on discussing the bill with you and I would ask that you consider supporting the bill by co-sponsoring the Young Heroes Commemorative bill."
There was a follow-up e-mail this week from Simonaire's office, reminding everyone that SB 216, Young Heroes Commemorative Month, would be heard tomorrow before a Senate committee.
"Senator's 14 year old Son takes the Lead on Young Heroes Bill," the headline read.
The bill calls for designating October "Young Heroes Month." The idea is to recognize young people who are doing good work in their communities - collecting toothbrushes for the homeless, for example - and thereby inspire others to do the same, the senator said.
Simonaire said his son came up with the idea.
"He wanted to work on a bill this year with me," Simonaire said. "He was basically looking to get involved in the legislative process."
The idea was not Isaac's first.
"He came up with the idea of lowering the driving age to 14," Simonaire said. "And I said that wouldn't fly. 'Let's work on a more workable bill.' "
The furniture wars
The last time Sheila Dixon hosted a City Council lunch, her aides threw news photographers out of the public meeting and the mayor herself may or may not have given them the finger. (The Daily Record ran a front-page picture of Dixon with her middle digit aloft, but Dixon's spokesman insisted she was just adjusting her glasses.)
Her Honor again played hostess at a council lunch Monday, and this time, no one was tossed out or flipped off.
But the mayor's office still seemed to find a way to communicate Dixon's feelings for the Fourth Estate: All of the chairs where reporters usually sit had been removed.
