DCCC - Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Having arrived from Cuba as a boy, Raul took an interest in his community at a young age. At the age of twenty, Raul teamed up with his father and started Hialeah’s first–ever Spanish–language newspaper, El Sol de Hialeah. It wasn’t long before Raul discovered that he wanted to help change the city he lived in and run for public office. In 1977 he did just that and was elected to the Hialeah City Council.

Once involved in government, Raul realized that the Mayor’s office was the best place to make real lasting changes to the city. In 1981, with the overwhelming support of voters, Raul became the first Cuban–born Mayor in the country.

The Martinez years at City Hall are marked by more than two decades of prosperity and sustainable growth, which earned Hialeah the slogan: “The City of Progress.” The Mayor’s bold plan to revitalize the economy of what was once a low income industrial city resulted in the creation of over 18,000 new jobs, a 13% drop in unemployment, and a series of balanced budgets, all while keeping taxes and municipal interest rates low. Raul forged relationships with business leaders from around the world to design commerce expansion programs that would ensure that Hialeah would have good jobs and a thriving middle class. The results were impressive. Over 3,400 new managerial jobs were created under Mayor Martinez’s leadership. Hialeah is now the fifth largest city in Florida with a booming business sector and high quality neighborhood’s.

Having come from a family with limited financial resources, Raul Martinez understands that a good education is the key to success in life. As Mayor, he worked closely with school principals and teachers to ensure that Hialeah’s students were getting their fair share of quality educational services. As a result of programs that induced higher academic performance, including a series of innovative e–libraries throughout the city, Hialeah’s high school graduation rate increased by 125% and the number of college graduates went up by 76%. “The City of Progress” is now an example of what American cities can become with good leadership.

In order to sustain Hialeah’s rapid growth and success, Mayor Martinez wanted to ensure that city residents were receiving the finest public services available. Hialeah is now widely recognized as having the finest public parks, recreational systems, and fire and police services in the state of Florida. Raul’s award–winning elderly living and affordable housing programs were built using a combination of innovative funding sources and today they are a national model of excellence.

In recognition of his inspirational leadership, the Florida League of Cities honored Raul with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006, a unanimous vote, led by Mayor Julio Robaina and Hialeah’s commission, renamed its city hall “Raul L. Martinez Government Center.” As recently as last year, a bipartisan commission, led by Republican State Legislator, Eddy Gonzalez, named a portion of a city road “Raul L. Martinez” Way.

Perhaps what is most impressive about Raul Martinez is not his extraordinary accomplishments as a leader, but his unwavering pursuit of improving people’s lives. Together with Angela – his best friend and wife for nearly 40 years – Raul created sports leagues, aquatic recreational parks, performing arts centers and funded trips to Walt Disney World for underprivileged kids. Raul Martinez, along with his family, has always led by example, leaving a legacy for our community to follow of a constant commitment to public service, children and families.