BY ALFONSO CHARDY

 In the aftermath of the Elian Gonzalez controversy, a group of Cuban-American business and civic leaders has begun discussing options to make sure such a trauma is not repeated, including ways to separate local politics from the 41-year-old fight against Fidel Castro.

 People involved in the discussions say the priorities include healing the community and finding a way to reassure the nation that exiles are loyal Americans. The long-term objective is avoiding damage to the image of the exile community, and Miami as a whole.

 But the most difficult and controversial part of the discussions is the idea of separating Cuba from local politics, a proposal that goes to the heart of the perennial exile dilemma: how to balance hatred of Castro with issues that affect the broader community.

 At present, Cuban Americans running for elected office often espouse a hard-line on Havana as a way to garner votes. Whenever a major issue arises with Cuba it is not uncommon for elected officials to rush to Spanish-language radio stations to urge a tough line.

 ``They need to cut the nonsense from local government and fundamentally focus on providing good police protection, fill potholes on the streets, pick up the trash, fund transportation systems and leave the major foreign policy issues to policymakers in Washington,'' said Pedro Freyre, chairman of Facts About Cuban Exiles, and one of those urging discussion of the issue.

 His comments are echoed by Carlos Saladrigas, chief executive officer of ADP TotalSource and one of the negotiators who tried to forge an agreement with the government in the final hours before the federal raid that removed Elian from the home of his Miami relatives.

 ``Elected officials need to behave as elected officials, not as exile leaders,'' Saladrigas said.

 ``Good luck,'' said a skeptical Jose Basulto, leader of Brothers to the Rescue, one of the exile organizations that called for demonstrations to support Elian's Miami relatives. ``It's easier said than done. Our community is so centered on Cuban issues and elected officials depend on their votes to get elected.''

 Ramon Saul Sanchez, head of the Democracy Movement and prime promoter of street protests, welcomed the proposal but urged caution.

 ``In a community where the vast majority of the people are exiles, and in a country where issues -- to be effective -- must be brought forth through political channels, there will always be a need for some degree of issue integration,'' Sanchez said. ``The fundamental element is that it be done with prudence and objectivity.''

 Elian was a perfect example of how exile views sometimes clash with larger national interests. While many exiles equated turning over Elian to his father to a victory for Castro, most Americans viewed the turnover as the lawful outcome of a custody dispute.

 The broad outline of a strategy for healing the community came Wednesday night during the monthly meeting of the Mesa Redonda civic group at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The group, whose name means Round Table in Spanish, is made up of 31 high-ranking Hispanic business executives, including Herald Publisher Alberto Ibargüen, who did not attend Wednesday's meeting because of other commitments.

 The meeting was not open to news reporters. Members contacted about the meeting including the current Mesa Redonda chairman, Rene Murai, an attorney, would not comment on Wednesday's meeting.

 But Freyre, who is not a Mesa Redonda member but was there as a guest, proposed a public relations plan to convey the history and achievements of exiles as one way to repair the damage of the Elian crisis.

 Freyre, an attorney, is one of at least three civic and business leaders spearheading the community-healing process.

 The others are Saladrigas and Carlos de la Cruz, chairman of Eagle Brands, both members of Mesa Redonda.

 Freyre said Miami's image must be a top priority.

 ``There's definitely a risk that instability would hamper our ability to attract investors if Miami acquires the image of a chronically chaotic community,'' Freyre said before Wednesday's meeting. ``Who'd want to set up a multinational in such a place?''

 Images of exiles denouncing the Elian raid as a Gestapo operation and flying the U.S. flag upside down angered many non-Cubans, some of whom now view exiles as disloyal.

 Freyre says that image needs to be corrected.

 ``One misrepresentation has been that Cuban Americans are disloyal to the United States,'' Freyre said. ``We are not. The issue was with the Clinton Administration not the country. We are very loyal Americans. We fight in wars, we pay taxes like everybody else.''

 But while repairing the exile image is a top objective, the most intriguing idea is finding a way to keep Cuba policy separate from local politics.

 Citing an example, Saladrigas said that one of the ``biggest blunders'' of the Elian crisis were statements Mayors Alex Penelas of Miami-Dade and Joe Carollo of Miami made March 29 as the Justice Department intensified pressures on Miami relatives to surrender the boy.

 Penelas blamed the Clinton Administration for provoking exile anger, and both he and Carollo promised their police departments would not help federal agents seize Elian.

 When an assistant Miami police chief rode in a federal van during the raid, Carollo, who had not been told in advance of the raid, reacted angrily, firing the city manager. The police chief retired, and the city has been in an uproar since.

 ``One thing is for them to be Cuban,'' said Saladrigas, ``but another is for them to understand that their primary responsibility is to run their cities. What that means is that they have to view themselves as elected officials of an entire community.''

 De la Cruz made the point that asking local elected officials to focus on their municipalities does not mean ``we are diminishing the importance of the Cuban exile cause.''

 But Saladrigas also indicated that exiles in general should be more selective about when to focus on Castro.

 ``We don't need to swing the bat every time Castro pitches a ball,'' Saladrigas said.

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald