It's official: Martinez takes on Díaz-Balart

[Scurrilous]

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"In front of Hialeah City Hall, now named in his honor, former Mayor Raul Martinez made official Tuesday what had been rumored for months: He will run for Congress against 15-year-incumbent U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart.

"Raul Martinez will not be intimidated by Díaz-Balart or anyone else," Martinez said. "I wake up in the morning and I'm very assured and confident of the person I am."

Among his supporters at the news conference were Hialeah Councilmen Carlos Hernandez, Jose Caragol and Luis Gonzalez, all Republicans.

"Maybe it's not the politically safe thing to do, but I wasn't worried about that," Gonzalez said of his endorsement of Martinez, a Democrat. "I believe in what the mayor has done for Hialeah and I believe in what he can do for the district." Conspicuously missing at the event was Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, a Republican who views Martinez as his mentor. When asked later about Robaina's absence, Martinez said more GOP supporters will come out to back him soon.

Martinez said he picked Hialeah City Hall to announce his intent to run to showcase downtown Hialeah's revival under his watch. He held office in Hialeah -- first as a councilman, then as a mayor -- for almost 30 years. He chose not to run again in 2005.

The campaign between two South Florida titans will be deeply acrimonious, with charges of corruption and challenges of who's tougher on Fidel Castro's Cuba."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/389042.html

[kcass1954]

1. This ought to be fun to watch...

:popcorn: I wish Martinez well in his endeavor - I'd like to see Diaz-Balart out of there.

[Scurrilous]

2. Candidates Martinez, Díaz-Balart start swinging

Former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez formally announced his candidacy for Congress -- seeking to unseat veteran Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart -- as both sides hurled accusations at the other.

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"The race for the congressional seat of South Florida Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart quickly turned nasty Tuesday after former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, a Democrat, formally announced he was challenging the 15-year Republican incumbent.

Díaz-Balart's camp questioned Martinez's "integrity" and accused him of being willing to make "unilateral concessions to the Cuban dictatorship."

Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer blasted Martinez for ''corruption and indecency'' -- allusions to Martinez's 1991 conviction for alleged extortion, which was reversed on appeal -- and his use of profane language while denouncing Greer for criticizing Hillary Clinton's presence at a fundraiser last year at the ex-mayor's home."

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"The heated tone of the campaign was not surprising. The race pits two powerful and prominent Cuban-American leaders in a district that has seen little or no opposition to Díaz-Balart since he won the congressional seat in 1992."

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"When asked about his ability to reach voters outside Hialeah, in a congressional district that includes Miami Lakes, Miramar, and Pembroke Pines and stretches south to Kendall, Martinez said he has reached out to local leaders.

"I've spoken to many of the leaders in Broward County who have said they will support me."

Martinez also is counting on one of Florida's most popular Democratic leaders: Bob Graham, former U.S. senator and governor.

"Who better to have on your side than Bob Graham?" Martinez told the enthusiastic crowd in Hialeah."

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/389806.html