Latest news with #MichaelK
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidate Profile: Michael K. 'Mike' Lamonea (House District 89 Republican Primary)
Michael K. 'Mike' Lamonea is a candidate for House District 89 and is running as a Republican. His name will appear on the June 17, 2025 ballot. Lamonea is running against challenger Kristen Shannon in the June Republican primary. The winner will appear on the ballot for the General Election on Nov. 4. If you are voting in this election, from May 2 through June 14 you can vote early at your On Election Day, polls in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Don't forget to bring your ID. to see who is on your ballot. 10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one. Candidate Profiles Name: Michael K. 'Mike' LamoneaAge: 52Website: Mike Lamonea retired from ICE Homeland Security Investigations after serving our country for over 26 years as a Special Agent – about a decade of which he served as the Executive over multiple offices in Southeastern Virginia. He was subsequently appointed by Governor Youngkin as the Chair of Virginia's Human Trafficking Commission, was elected to serve on the Chesapeake School Board where he is a member of the School Safety Task Force, and is currently a business leader for a global computer networking company. Mr. Lamonea is married with four children and he has a long history of community service leadership roles in our region. He's a long-time resident in the Western Branch area of Chesapeake, all his kids have graduated from or are attending the Science and Medicine Academy at Deep Creek High School, and his wife was born and raised in Suffolk in the house where his in-laws still reside in the 89th District. With his experience and deep roots throughout the district, Mr. Lamonea brings a results-driven mindset to government focused on lowering the cost of living, enhancing public safety, and improving education. I'm running to ensure working families and small businesses in the 89th District have a strong voice in Richmond. Our region deserves leadership that puts service above politics and focuses on practical solutions to real problems—like improving education, reducing inflationary pressures, and keeping our community safe. As a committed conservative and Chesapeake School Board member, I know what it takes to keep our kids safe at school, fund more dollars into the classroom, ensure parents have a voice in their children's education, and attain high standards of education. As a family man and business leader, I understand the financial pressures Virginians face day to day and the need to put more money back in their pockets by cutting taxes—especially the car and grocery taxes. And as a retired ICE Homeland Security Investigations leader, I have seen firsthand how crime and illegal immigration go hand in hand – and I will work across the aisle to pass policies that get tough on criminal illegal aliens and make every family safer. The 89th district has been amazing to my family and as a public servant, both professionally and personally, I believe I have the qualifications and experience to make a significant difference and continue giving back to our community. As a former ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent and Executive, Chair of Virginia's Human Trafficking Commission, elected member of the Chesapeake School Board, leader in various community organizations, and current business Director for a global computer networking company, I've established and led numerous teams, balanced major budgets, and solved complex problems under tremendous pressure. I know what it takes to lead, manage responsibly, work collaboratively, and deliver results – skills I will bring to the General Assembly to tirelessly serve the people of the 89th District. In my first session, I would sponsor a bill to increase funding and support for local law enforcement agencies; specifically, to improve officer recruitment and retention. Public safety is a top priority, and we must ensure all of our first responders have the resources, training, and personnel they need to keep our neighborhoods safe while building strong and respectful relationships within the communities they serve. Backing the blue is not just a slogan: to me it is deeply personal. We need to have the backs of the officers who have ours and that starts with passing common sense policies to give them the tools they need to get the job done and get the bad guys off the streets. I believe in transparency and accountability in all campaign fundraising. I will accept lawful donations that align with my values, but no contribution will ever influence my vote or priorities as your Delegate. Yes. While I'm proud to be a Republican, my loyalty is to the people of the 89th District. If party leadership supports a measure that doesn't serve our community, I won't hesitate to stand up and vote my conscience on behalf of the citizens I serve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Japan Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Outside mediation now crucial for Pakistan and India
With the risk of dangerous escalation between India and Pakistan the highest in decades, only international mediation can stop a spiral into all-out conflict between the nuclear-armed foes, analysts say. Pakistan said it launched counterattacks on Saturday after India struck three of its air bases overnight following days of missile, artillery and drone strikes across the border. It is the first time since the India-Pakistan war of 1971 — before both got nuclear weapons — that they have struck deep inside each other's territory, reaching as far as Karachi on the Arabian Sea coast. These have also killed civilians far from Kashmir — the death toll on both sides is now over 60 — which further increases expectations on New Delhi and Islamabad to respond in a robust manner. "Civilian casualties changes the entire situation and puts both governments under tremendous public pressure," said Praveen Donthi, senior India analyst for the International Crisis Group. "Both powers on their own are not going to de-escalate." Conflicts in more recent times have been confined mostly to in or near Kashmir, the Himalayan territory split between the two countries — and claimed by both in full — following independence in 1947. Most recently in 2019, these have followed a pattern of brief, intense strikes and counter strikes, followed by a willingness on both sides to de-escalate. "In this case, emotions and mistrust are so high that international mediation will be of the essence," said Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst. "There's still no clear path to an off ramp." There have been global calls for restraint but analysts agreed that actual mediation from the United States, Britain or Arab Gulf states was urgent. "The efforts haven't been as serious as they could have been, given that these are two are nuclear countries and they have a history of fighting each other," said Abdul Basit, a senior associate fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. The latest events, including claims of targeting each other's airbases, should now "send the international efforts into overdrive," Basit said. "They need to knock some sense into their heads that this war is happening over populated areas — that one incident could suddenly turn into a nuclear flash point," he added. U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the conflict was "fundamentally none of our business," in comments that suggested President Donald Trump's White House was not about to get involved. But this now looks to have changed, with Washington saying early Saturday that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to India and Pakistan's foreign ministers for the first time since the crisis erupted. In addition Rubio talked with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir, considered the country's key powerbroker. Rubio "emphasized that both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation," the State Department said. Senior ministers from Iran and Saudi Arabia have also visited both countries in recent few days. The last conflict in 2019 — in and around Kashmir and away from populated areas — ended with both sides claiming victory after mediation from the United States. "But what we're seeing now is unprecedented. We have not seen these types of attacks before — missiles, drones, planes sent over populated cities," said Basit. "It's a new playbook," said Basit, with mediators needed to "help with the victory narrative for both sides" in order to de-escalate. The flare-up stems from an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month in which 26 people were shot dead and that New Delhi has accused Islamabad of backing. Pakistan has denied any involvement and called for a neutral probe. On Wednesday, India launched missile attacks, striking mosques and seminaries in several cities that it called "terrorist" targets, killing more than 20 people including children. "It was an unusually brutal attack on civilians who were singled out for their religion and that set the tone for India's response," Kugelman said, adding that India wants to show that it has "zero tolerance for terrorism." Pakistan says it is being punished for something it didn't do. "People in Pakistan are fed up of being blamed so often for things they say they have nothing to do with," Kugelman said. "If Pakistan were to hold back, that could be politically damaging because there is such a strong (public) view that more needs to be done." Both countries have given their military operations religious names, appealing to strongly devout sentiments in their nations. Rebels in Indian-administered Kashmir have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan. India regularly blames Pakistan for backing armed groups fighting its forces in Kashmir, a charge that Islamabad denies. Relations have worsened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's more than 10-year Hindu nationalist government, which in 2019 brought Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir under direct rule. "In the long term (Kashmir is) going to destabilize relations for at least another decade," said Donthi. "The Kashmir conflict is at the heart of this but that is almost forgotten when hostilities start."
