BETTY CORTINA And OSCAR MUSIBAY Herald Staff Writers

Hialeah voters Tuesday looked past Raul Martinez 's felony convictions and sent him back to the mayor's chair for a sixth term. "Thank you Hialeah," Martinez told a crowd of more than 2,000 supporters. " Raul Martinez loves Hialeah and Hialeah loves Raul Martinez ."

Martinez, suspended in 1990 and convicted of political corruption a year later, edged his longtime foe former state Rep. Nilo Juri by 273 votes in a tight runoff that drew nearly 60 percent of Hialeah's registered voters to the polls.

However, the absentee votes turned out to be crucial: Martinez led 2-to-1, 826 votes to 448. Those votes, according to Dade Elections Supervisor David Leahy, sealed the win. "They did. There's no doubt about it.'

Late Tuesday, Juri questioned the integrity of the absentee ballots.

"The opposing camp controls the three or four thousand housing units in Hialeah," Juri said. "It's all a scheme."

He said the narrow difference in votes will mean an automatic recount.

Despite the slim win, Martinez exuberantly claimed victory at 10 p.m. before a cheering crowd that sometimes broke into fights as hundreds tried to touch the candidate. Some who reached him, kissed his hands.

"Whether he is a delinquent or not we love him," said Blanca Mesa, a supporter at Martinez headquarters. "If he is a delinquent then the city of Hialeah wants a delinquent for mayor."

Added supporter Teresa Munoz: "This is a triumph for the city. The more they chastised him, the stronger he became."

While Martinez reveled in the win, just two blocks away, Juri comforted his supporters.

"I ask that all of you return to your jobs tomorrow with your heads held high because the decent people of Hialeah have spoken," Juri said. "Hialeah doesn't deserve what is about to come, but only time will show who is in the right."

Martinez pulled off the election despite the union of three political enemies last week who vowed to campaign for one cause -- keeping a felon out of the mayor's office. Acting Mayor Julio Martinez and Councilman Salvatore D'Angelo, who lost their bids for mayor in the first round, threw their support behind Juri.

But Martinez remained confident through the runoff week, saying all along votes aren't transferable.

"We knew that Hialeah would not forget the work we did for them," said Martinez, who led the city through a decade of growth and economic boom. "This victory is not for a man, it's a victory for a community.

For Martinez the campaign has been filled with hurdles. Three times, Hialeah residents went to court to get his name thrown off the ballot. Each time the courts ruled in his favor, saying Martinez could run because his civil rights are in place until all appeals are exhausted.

Martinez told his supporters Tuesday night that he would be back at work as early as this morning.

But no one is certain whether Martinez will even make it to Friday's swearing in ceremony. Gov. Lawton Chiles could re- suspend Martinez. Chiles has said he would wait until after the election to make a decision.

Through the campaign Martinez promised voters the governor would not remove him, pointing to case law that indicates a winning candidate can't be re-suspended for a conviction from a previous term.

Jo Miglino, Chiles' press secretary, said Tuesday he may decide by the end of this week.

Martinez's victory may be short-lived. His biggest hurdle comes at the end of this month when his lawyers go before the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Martinez faces a 10-year prison sentence on charges that he shook down developers.

If he loses the appeal he promises to turn to the U.S. Supreme Court.

It's not the first time a convicted felon has won the mayor's job in Dade's second-largest city. The legendary Henry Milander, who ruled Hialeah for 30 years, regained his post after a grand theft conviction in 1970.

The top council vote-getter traditionally becomes president of the council. If Martinez is removed, Tuesday night's top council vote-getter, incumbent Herman Echevarria could be named acting mayor.

Tuesday night he was at Martinez' headquarters.

"I don't feel I will be the next acting mayor," Echevarria said. However, asked what he would do if that does occur, Echevarria responded: "I'm always ready to serve."