logybogy
December 3rd, 2005, 05:16 AM
"I've done bad things,'' he said, ``but they were good for the city.''
Posted on Fri, Dec. 02, 2005
HIALEAH
Martinez retiring, but not quietly
Raul Martinez retires as mayor of Hialeah today after 24 years of controversy and accomplishment. But he still is speaking out sharply against past and current foes.
BY OSCAR CORRAL
ocorral@herald.com
Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez isn't walking quietly into the sunset of his political career when he leaves office today after nearly a quarter-century.
An ardent Democrat defined as much by his rat-tat-tat mouth as by his in-your-face actions, Martinez spent his last days in office singing his praises about his political legacy and slinging darts at his adversaries. He did not hold back.
''Screw him!'' Martinez said just one day after Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer publicly opposed Martinez's bid to move the county's urban development boundary further west and ever closer to the Everglades.
''Why should David Dermer be opposed to Hialeah's plan?'' Martinez asked, answering his own question with another question. ``Because he wants to win some brownie points with environmentalists, and because he might want to run for something else?'
As for Miami Lakes Councilman Michael Pizzi, who also opposed Martinez's bid to move the UDB, the mayor, using a Spanish term, called him an excrement eater.
What about Dexter Lehtinen, who was the U.S. attorney when Martinez was tried on corruption charges involving land deals more than a decade ago?
''A crazy son of a b----,'' Martinez said, arguing that Lehtinen targeted him because the prosecutor's wife, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, was interested in running for the same congressional seat as Martinez.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Which leads to Hizzoner's thoughts about South Florida's Republican Cuban-American congressional delegation: ``They're not liked, not trusted in their own party. All they do is smoke and mirrors down here.''
His words carry regret if not outright resentment. Just 15 years ago, before he faced -- and ultimately defeated -- federal racketeering and extortion charges, Martinez was considered a top contender to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Claude Pepper.
''I would have been the first Cuban American there,'' he said. ``I would have been respected. None of the Cuban Americans there now are respected . . . I don't have resentment; the only regret I have is that I didn't run for Congress.''
The federal indictment got in the way of that dream. He was convicted, but the verdict was overturned on appeal, and two subsequent trials resulted in hung juries before the feds gave up.
''But that's all in the past,'' Martinez said. ``I've been around so long that I know where the bodies are buried in this town.''
The targets of Martinez's wrath weren't totally surprised by his parting shots.
''His worst enemy is his own mouth,'' Pizzi said of Martinez. ``I don't see why he just couldn't go out gracefully.''
DERMER'S RESPONSE
Dermer said that he isn't winning any brownie points with developers by wanting to preserve the current urban boundary. He wished Martinez ``the best of good health, happiness and success.''
Lehtinen called Martinez's account of his indictment ''garbage talk,'' adding, ``all of us are looking forward, but he's still living in 1987.''
The FBI investigation of Martinez began long before Lehtinen became U.S. attorney in Miami. And Lehtinen pointed out that he recused himself from overseeing the case because of its politically sensitive nature.
Thomas Bean, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, said of Martinez's assessment of his boss and the other Cuban-American members of Congress: ``He certainly can say what he wants . . . but facts speak for themselves.''
The Santiago-born Martinez became the first Cuban-American mayor of a big city in Florida in 1981. Back then, Hialeah was a working class, factory-laden town where recently arrived Cubans flocked for cheap housing and jobs. Some would say not much has changed.
But Martinez disagrees. Hialeah, the second most populated city in Miami-Dade County, is experiencing a downtown revival. Affordable housing -- particularly for the elderly -- is more plentiful than in most municipalities. And developers are trying to redevelop a couple of major parcels -- a recently annexed trash dump and a race track -- for stores and housing within Hialeah's borders.
OFF TO SCHOOL
Leaving his art-work laden office recently, Martinez climbed into his Lincoln Towncar and headed toward Hialeah Middle School to speak to seventh and eighth graders in Jackie Viana's class.
On his way there, he spotted Hurricane Wilma debris near 54th Street, dialed his long time secretary, Mabel Mizrahi, and told her to immediately call the solid waste director to clear it.
Martinez said he has always driven himself without security, despite the occasional death threat. If there were an emergency, he said, he would just pop a blue police light on his dashboard. That's also how he got hassle-free parking in front of the school.
He didn't mince words with the kids once in the classroom.
''I'm going to be unemployed,'' he told them. ``I'm going to have to put out a resume.''
Later, Martinez said he wouldn't lie to children because he doesn't want them to think politicians are ``disingenuous.''
''This is not a forever good-bye,'' he told the students. ``It doesn't mean that I might not one day come back. I may not like the private sector.''
NOT RUNNING
But Martinez is surely going to give it a shot. His top priority now, he says, is to make lots of money, with a few caveats.
Running for Congress or another higher office ''is not in the cards,'' he said. And pursuing work as a lobbyist isn't either.
``I don't see myself as a lobbyist.''
Besides, a conflict clause in Hialeah's city charter forbids him from doing any work that involves the city for a year after he leaves.
He'll probably make his money in real estate and construction, Martinez said, and he'll stay involved in politics as much as he can, continuing to help the state and national Democratic Party.
Martinez's hand-picked replacement and protégé, Julio Robaina, knows he's stepping into big shoes. ''No one really knew how to handle a transition,'' Robaina said. ``There hasn't been one here in 24 years.''
Councilman and Martinez ally Esteban ''Steve'' Bovo said Martinez's style is singular and impossible to emulate.
''So many words can define Raul: controversy, confidence, arrogance,'' Bovo said. ``I think of the Sinatra song, I Did it My Way. Raul has done it his way.''
For a last taste of adoration, Martinez on Wednesday headed to the city's Goodlet Adult Center that feeds and entertains the elderly. As soon as she saw him, Amada Tarin, 71, stopped her card game and pointed a scolding finger at the mayor. ''All of Hialeah is upset you're leaving; everybody,'' she said.
WILL MISS HELPING
In another room, a crowd erupted in applause when he walked in. Martinez said he will miss ''being able to help people'' the most.
He spent half his life leading this working-class city, mostly with a fist so solid it broke his enemies. His signature hard-scrabble style helped re-elect him every four years, sometimes unopposed.
''I provide them with service,'' he said of his constituents. ``They trust me. They like the fact that I'm combative, that I'm a fighter, and the fact that I've never forgotten where I came from.''
In a candid moment, as Martinez explained how he ''conned'' the federal government to get some free palm trees planted at City Hall, he reflected on his legacy.
''I've done bad things,'' he said, ``but they were good for the city.''
Posted on Fri, Dec. 02, 2005
HIALEAH
Martinez retiring, but not quietly
Raul Martinez retires as mayor of Hialeah today after 24 years of controversy and accomplishment. But he still is speaking out sharply against past and current foes.
BY OSCAR CORRAL
ocorral@herald.com
Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez isn't walking quietly into the sunset of his political career when he leaves office today after nearly a quarter-century.
An ardent Democrat defined as much by his rat-tat-tat mouth as by his in-your-face actions, Martinez spent his last days in office singing his praises about his political legacy and slinging darts at his adversaries. He did not hold back.
''Screw him!'' Martinez said just one day after Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer publicly opposed Martinez's bid to move the county's urban development boundary further west and ever closer to the Everglades.
''Why should David Dermer be opposed to Hialeah's plan?'' Martinez asked, answering his own question with another question. ``Because he wants to win some brownie points with environmentalists, and because he might want to run for something else?'
As for Miami Lakes Councilman Michael Pizzi, who also opposed Martinez's bid to move the UDB, the mayor, using a Spanish term, called him an excrement eater.
What about Dexter Lehtinen, who was the U.S. attorney when Martinez was tried on corruption charges involving land deals more than a decade ago?
''A crazy son of a b----,'' Martinez said, arguing that Lehtinen targeted him because the prosecutor's wife, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, was interested in running for the same congressional seat as Martinez.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Which leads to Hizzoner's thoughts about South Florida's Republican Cuban-American congressional delegation: ``They're not liked, not trusted in their own party. All they do is smoke and mirrors down here.''
His words carry regret if not outright resentment. Just 15 years ago, before he faced -- and ultimately defeated -- federal racketeering and extortion charges, Martinez was considered a top contender to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Claude Pepper.
''I would have been the first Cuban American there,'' he said. ``I would have been respected. None of the Cuban Americans there now are respected . . . I don't have resentment; the only regret I have is that I didn't run for Congress.''
The federal indictment got in the way of that dream. He was convicted, but the verdict was overturned on appeal, and two subsequent trials resulted in hung juries before the feds gave up.
''But that's all in the past,'' Martinez said. ``I've been around so long that I know where the bodies are buried in this town.''
The targets of Martinez's wrath weren't totally surprised by his parting shots.
''His worst enemy is his own mouth,'' Pizzi said of Martinez. ``I don't see why he just couldn't go out gracefully.''
DERMER'S RESPONSE
Dermer said that he isn't winning any brownie points with developers by wanting to preserve the current urban boundary. He wished Martinez ``the best of good health, happiness and success.''
Lehtinen called Martinez's account of his indictment ''garbage talk,'' adding, ``all of us are looking forward, but he's still living in 1987.''
The FBI investigation of Martinez began long before Lehtinen became U.S. attorney in Miami. And Lehtinen pointed out that he recused himself from overseeing the case because of its politically sensitive nature.
Thomas Bean, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, said of Martinez's assessment of his boss and the other Cuban-American members of Congress: ``He certainly can say what he wants . . . but facts speak for themselves.''
The Santiago-born Martinez became the first Cuban-American mayor of a big city in Florida in 1981. Back then, Hialeah was a working class, factory-laden town where recently arrived Cubans flocked for cheap housing and jobs. Some would say not much has changed.
But Martinez disagrees. Hialeah, the second most populated city in Miami-Dade County, is experiencing a downtown revival. Affordable housing -- particularly for the elderly -- is more plentiful than in most municipalities. And developers are trying to redevelop a couple of major parcels -- a recently annexed trash dump and a race track -- for stores and housing within Hialeah's borders.
OFF TO SCHOOL
Leaving his art-work laden office recently, Martinez climbed into his Lincoln Towncar and headed toward Hialeah Middle School to speak to seventh and eighth graders in Jackie Viana's class.
On his way there, he spotted Hurricane Wilma debris near 54th Street, dialed his long time secretary, Mabel Mizrahi, and told her to immediately call the solid waste director to clear it.
Martinez said he has always driven himself without security, despite the occasional death threat. If there were an emergency, he said, he would just pop a blue police light on his dashboard. That's also how he got hassle-free parking in front of the school.
He didn't mince words with the kids once in the classroom.
''I'm going to be unemployed,'' he told them. ``I'm going to have to put out a resume.''
Later, Martinez said he wouldn't lie to children because he doesn't want them to think politicians are ``disingenuous.''
''This is not a forever good-bye,'' he told the students. ``It doesn't mean that I might not one day come back. I may not like the private sector.''
NOT RUNNING
But Martinez is surely going to give it a shot. His top priority now, he says, is to make lots of money, with a few caveats.
Running for Congress or another higher office ''is not in the cards,'' he said. And pursuing work as a lobbyist isn't either.
``I don't see myself as a lobbyist.''
Besides, a conflict clause in Hialeah's city charter forbids him from doing any work that involves the city for a year after he leaves.
He'll probably make his money in real estate and construction, Martinez said, and he'll stay involved in politics as much as he can, continuing to help the state and national Democratic Party.
Martinez's hand-picked replacement and protégé, Julio Robaina, knows he's stepping into big shoes. ''No one really knew how to handle a transition,'' Robaina said. ``There hasn't been one here in 24 years.''
Councilman and Martinez ally Esteban ''Steve'' Bovo said Martinez's style is singular and impossible to emulate.
''So many words can define Raul: controversy, confidence, arrogance,'' Bovo said. ``I think of the Sinatra song, I Did it My Way. Raul has done it his way.''
For a last taste of adoration, Martinez on Wednesday headed to the city's Goodlet Adult Center that feeds and entertains the elderly. As soon as she saw him, Amada Tarin, 71, stopped her card game and pointed a scolding finger at the mayor. ''All of Hialeah is upset you're leaving; everybody,'' she said.
WILL MISS HELPING
In another room, a crowd erupted in applause when he walked in. Martinez said he will miss ''being able to help people'' the most.
He spent half his life leading this working-class city, mostly with a fist so solid it broke his enemies. His signature hard-scrabble style helped re-elect him every four years, sometimes unopposed.
''I provide them with service,'' he said of his constituents. ``They trust me. They like the fact that I'm combative, that I'm a fighter, and the fact that I've never forgotten where I came from.''
In a candid moment, as Martinez explained how he ''conned'' the federal government to get some free palm trees planted at City Hall, he reflected on his legacy.
''I've done bad things,'' he said, ``but they were good for the city.''