A couple who are newcomers to the Carroll County Republican Executive Committee were elected as chairman and secretary during a Jan. 28 meeting held at the Huntingdon Police Department.
Cyril and Jan Ostiguy are the new chairman and secretary, respectively.
Brent Bradberry was the former chairman and Dusty King was the past secretary.
Cyril, who was born in Canada, retired from Tracewell Systems Military and Commercial Electronics in Columbus, Ohio. He serves as an usher at The Dixie, is president of Small Town Cruisers Car Club, is an officer in Bruceton Election Pole for the Carroll County Election Commission and a trustee at Mount Zion United Methodist Church.
Jan is a graduate of a Family Nurse Practitioner Program in Syracuse, New York and retired from an Illinois nursing position on March 31, 2017.
She is a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church where she serves as Sunday School Administrator and Nurture Committee Chairman. She is an usher at The Dixie and serves as secretary of the Small Town Cruisers Car Club and is an active poll worker for Carroll County Election Commission. She formerly filled in as the Republican Committee secretary.
In 2014 they purchased their forever home in Carroll County near Huntingdon and later moved here from Danville, Illinois.
Joining the Ostiguys as the remaining officers are Corinne Arnold as vice chairman, Andy Ringold as treasurer and Tom Aljanic as director of communications.
During the meeting there was discussion concerning the opening of a party headquarters later in the year where election materials can be picked up. The former Rainbow Beauty Shop building on West Main St. as well as a building on East Main St. that Carolyn Espey owns were mentioned as possible sites.
Daniel Williams read a document that he wants the County Legislative Body to adopt that would declare the county as a Sanctuary City for Second Amendment Rights to Bear Arms.
The party is considering sending a letter to the governor asking him to appoint the Republican candidate nominee, Vicki Hoover, for the office of Chancellor for the 24th Judicial District. The case loads are piling up because there is no one in that position. The district includes the counties of Carroll, Henry, Benton, Decatur, and Hardin.
Following the business session, Don Barnett of Nashville, who is a fellow with the Center for Immigration Studies and has followed refugee resettlement for over 20 years, spoke and showed slides.
His interest in immigration and refugee policy started during an assignment in the U.S.S.R. while employed with the U.S. State Department. His articles on U.S. refugee and asylum policy have appeared in the National Review, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal – Europe, The Washington Times, New York Newsday, Chronicles and elsewhere.
A refugee is someone who is outside of their country unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin. Resettlement contractors are dependent on federal money for their voluntary work. They receive $2,175 from the State Department. In 2016 Tennessee got 2,049 refugees from 30 countries.
“After five years, 25 percent are still getting government assistance,” he said.
Even when the refugees are considered completely self-sufficient within six months, they can still be receiving food stamps, Medicaid, and public housing, Barnett said.
Healthwise, he said, 41 out of 10 have active TB and 1.3 percent have overall HIV infection.
The Refugee Settlement Program is 100 percent funded by the federal government, but the state has costs such as Medicaid. The state has sued the federal government over Refugee Resettlement.
Tennessee withdrew from the program ten years ago, but now Governor Bill Lee has opted to accept refugees.
Barnett said there is now a bill in the state legislature, HB 1929 which requires legislative approval of Refugee Resettlement in the state. It already has 45 sponsors.
“It’s a tough ethical issue and that’s why people don’t tackle it,” said Barnett.
