The 2013 Patrick “Toby” Buttimer Awards Dinner was held Saturday at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront and presented by the Chatham County Democratic Committee.

The guest speaker for the evening was U. S. Representative Elijah Cummings who reminded us “it’s the destiny”. Congressman Cummings was born and raised in Baltimore where he still resides today.

Congressman Cummings represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional District, which includes Baltimore. He is a democrat and has served in Congress since 1996. He serves currently as a senior member of the Joint Economic Committee

Cummings is also the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR). Congressman Cummings has been seen quite frequently on national television. Most recently, he has appeared on CBS’s “Face the Nation” and on CNN and MSNBC in connection with the question of the use of military action against Syria by

“I need to be in Savannah to be a part of folk who understand this is our watch” said Cummings as he referred to the democratic President. “This is a democracy and we must guard our democracy,” said Cummings.

Atty James Blackburn was the recipient of the Patrick “Toby” Buttimer Award; Anna Maria Thomas, M,ayor of Thunderbolt received the Arthur Gigilliat Public Service Award and Atty Joe Steffen, attorney for Savannah State University, received the Mathews Yellow Dog Democrat Award.

Dubose Porter, the newly elected Chairman