Hialeah’s Raul Martinez: “I will be back”
By
Alvaro F. Fernandez
Hialeah’s
49th
Street is now named Raul Martinez Street. On Saturday, the former
mayor was honored with his own state road by Tallahassee republican
legislators. Also present was the majority of Hialeah’s city
council — also republican. Most have been mentored by Raul. Martinez
is a lifelong democrat.
More
than 100 people from Hialeah gathered under the sun, around noon, to
witness the unveiling of the street sign. Present among the group
were long-time members of the community who still adore the former
mayor who
led the city for more than two decades. Also on hand were a
handful of others who have been key players in any Raul Martinez run
for office in the past.
At
the end of his acceptance speech, Raul said he would be returning to
public service in 2008. And although proud and thankful for his
current business success, Martinez emphasized that some people are
meant to perform in the public arena. His last words were, “I will
be back.” He never specified what job he’s after.
Al’s
Loupe Read Spanish Version
Hialeah’s
Raul Martinez: “I will be back”
By
Alvaro F. Fernandez
alfernandez@the-beach.net
Hialeah’s
49th
Street is now named Raul Martinez Street. On Saturday, the former
mayor was honored with his own state road by Tallahassee republican
legislators. Also present was the majority of Hialeah’s city
council — also republican. Most have been mentored by Raul. Martinez
is a lifelong democrat.
More
than 100 people from Hialeah gathered under the sun, around noon, to
witness the unveiling of the street sign. Present among the group
were long-time members of the community who still adore the former
mayor who led the city for more than two decades. Also on hand were a
handful of others who have been key players in any Raul Martinez run
for office in the past.
At
the end of his acceptance speech, Raul said he would be returning to
public service in 2008. And although proud and thankful for his
current business success, Martinez emphasized that some people are
meant to perform in the public arena. His last words were, “I will
be back.” He never specified what job he’s after.
If
we look back more than two decades, Raul L. Martinez, then mayor of
the City of Hialeah, was without question the most promising and
popular Cuban American politician from South Florida. In 1981, at the
age of 32, he had taken over a bankrupt city and in less than two
years had led it to an astounding turnaround. Hialeah was suddenly in
the limelight and considered one of the top industrial areas in
Florida. Politicos in the know considered the young Hialeah mayor the
obvious successor to U.S. Rep. Claude Pepper, south Florida’s
legendary congressional representative who was then in his 80s. At
the time there was no Cuban American in congress. And Raul’s home
fell in the Pepper district.
Then
in the late 1980s, Dexter Lehtinen, south Florida’s acting U.S.
attorney, put a stop to Raul’s rising star. Lehtinen was married to
another young, rising politician from the area, State Sen. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen. To make a long and sad story short, Raul was indicted
for corruption by Lehtinen’s people, suspended as mayor, and spent
years fighting the indictment, winning out at the end. During several
years of trials and appeals, he fought and always denied the
accusations against him. To this day many feel he was framed. After
his victory in the courts, he returned to lead the city for about 15
more years winning election after election in an area heavily
populated by Cuban Americans. More than 80 percent of these
registered republicans.
In
1989, when Raul was defending himself in court, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
went on to become the first Cuban-American elected to congress when
Pepper died. Shortly thereafter, she was followed to Washington, D.C.
by Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
Will
Raul stake his claim?
Raul
Martinez still lives in Hialeah. A large chunk of that city is
included in congressional district 21 — the seat currently held by
Diaz-Balart.
His
speech on Saturday at the unveiling, and a recent appearance on the
Edmundo Garcia radio program, La
Noche Se Mueve,
where he spoke like a candidate, tells me Raul has decided to take on
Diaz-Balart in ‘08.
The
former Hialeah mayor brings much to the table. In fact, as I once
wrote, Raul is considered the front runner, and he has yet to
announce. But what he brings is an ability to win. He has never lost
an election. And Raul has shown he can get republican votes.
But
as he stated on Saturday, his reason for seeking political office has
always been to help those most in need. Something that is sorely
lacking in the Diaz-Balart district. He mentioned a need for living
facilities for the elderly, assurance that money for transportation
is used to solve the problems of transportation, affordable health
care, immigration and others.
If
he runs against Lincoln, the Cuba issue will be brought up, I am
sure. Lincoln Diaz-Balart cannot run on his record — he has none. So
he will resort to what has worked in the past: demagoguery and an
attempt to label democrats as communists and Raul in the Fidel Castro
camp.
The
difference between Raul and Lincoln? Raul himself said it best last
Saturday when he stated that politicians should not be judged on what
they say or who they are, but on what they have accomplished. If that
is how the voters will judge, the tall mayor from Hialeah should
demolish his opponent.
Honestly,
what has Lincoln done for district 21?
Before
I forget, I saw Joe Garcia in the Saturday crowd in Hialeah. Could
this mean there might be trouble looming ahead for Mario, the other
Diaz-Balart brother in congress?
Although
still in 2007, ’08 seems to be heating up already.
