Robaina Hoping Fiscal Responsibility Will Get Him Elected County Mayor

HIALEAH (CBS4) - At the early voting polls the name Julio Robaina can't be missed.

He has an energized a base that stems from six years leading Hialeah as their mayor.

"I am a product of this community who is very proud of the things we have been able to accomplish in the second largest city." Robaina told CBS4's David Sutta in a sit down interview earlier this month.

Robaina, a small business owner himself takes pride in the fact he didn't raise taxes in Hialeah as the city faced a difficult recession.

"During those tough economic times.  I don't have an administrator, I don't have any bureaucracy between me and my directors, not one time did we add any burden to the residents nor the business community."

Robaina is campaigning on his track record of fiscal responsibility and leadership.

However, critics lately have been painting the Hialeah mayor as having a troubled past.  First an IRS investigation for tax evasion and then flip flopping on major issues like the Florida Marlins new stadium.

Robaina claims he did nothing wrong in the tax evasion case but rather was taken in a scam.  As for the Marlins allegations, tape from a March 23, 2009 meeting before Miami-Dade commissioners shows Robaina was one of three mayors who pleaded for the commission to accept an agenda item to build a brand new stadium for the Marlins.

The deal would pass leaving voters outraged.  Robaina told us in our interview he never supported the deal.

"No, I was supporting baseball.  I was supporting Major League Baseball.  I was supporting the Marlins being here instead of going to another community.  And that's, I've been very clear about that." Robaina told us.

Robaina says he'll do away with discretionary funds, car allowances, and all the other perks if given the opportunity to be your next mayor.  He plans to roll back taxes and take run-away union pensions to task.

"The next mayor needs to be transparent, the game plan and the proven dealership, and execute a plan that will benefit all the residents of Miami-Dade County," said Robaina.

Political experts believe Robaina will finish this election as one of the top candidates.  After that, there will likely be a run-off.