Raul Hangs It Up

Photo Courtesy of Miami Herald

A shocker out of Hialeah today...Long-time Mayor Raul Martinez announced he is retiring in November.

The Democratic mayor of the 4th most Republican city in the United States says he wants to spend more time with his wife and children.

Hialeah mayor Raul Martinez, who has spent three-decades at the helm of Miami-Dade's second-largest city, announced this afternoon that he plans to retire at the end of his term in November and will not seek one final bid for office in the city's upcoming election.

Martinez broke the news during a press conference at City Hall, his seat of power, where he has run the city like an old-time ward boss, which irked many but made him popular among the citizenry.

''It's time,'' Martinez said. ``I've been here long enough. I have had a great job. I've had my ups and downs. It's about time.''

The mayor did not say what he plans to do next. He did say he wants to spend more time with his wife and children and said he looks forward to being a grandfather, with two grandchildren on the way.

The announcement comes nearly a week into the election's qualification period, which ends Sept. Among the potential successors is Martinez protégé, council President Julio Robaina.