A generation of Cuban-American leaders has united to fight the anti-Castro battle from an unlikely place: Tallahassee.

BY OSCAR CORRAL

State Rep. David Rivera was elected to represent a district that includes parts of Miami-Dade, Broward and Collier counties. But if he had his way, he'd be the alcalde of the city in Cuba where his family comes from, Cienfuegos.

''You grow up and all your family does is talk about Cuba. Your parents, your grandparents, they instill in you a sense of pride in the homeland,'' said Rivera, who was born in New York and has never been to Cuba. "I want to be mayor of Cienfuegos in a free Cuba.''

At a time when the United States is exploring new ways to weaken Cuba's communist dictatorship, Rivera has emerged as the main architect of an anti-Castro strategy aimed at Havana from an unlikely place: Tallahassee.

As part of the Republican Hispanic caucus, a group consisting mostly of Cuban-American lawmakers from South Florida, Rivera and others want to be players in Cuba as well as Florida. The caucus plans to meet again in the next two weeks to discuss ways to further the anti-Castro cause, Rivera said.

The phenomenon of state politicians trying to battle Castro from Tallahassee is not new, but there has never been such a united front, observers say.

''It's new because of the increased attention being given to terrorism issues, and the growing political muscle of Cuban-American legislators,'' said Susan McManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida.

Critics say Rivera and others in the Legislature who rally round the Cuban flag are merely pandering to conservative Cuban exiles in South Florida, and should be focusing their energies on tackling Florida's many problems.

George Willis, a Democratic political activist from Collier County, said he is stunned by Rivera's obsession with Cuba.

''He ought to be run out of office,'' Willis said. ``We've got so many problems in Florida that for a legislator to spend his time on anything other than the people of Florida, he's not fulfilling his responsibilities.''

Rivera, 38, proudly says that his top priority is to help Cuba become free.

''It's the most important issue to me,'' Rivera said. ``I see my role as being vigilant so that wherever the Castro regime tries to rear its ugly head in the state of Florida, I try to chop it off.''

State Rep. Manny Prieguez, a close Rivera ally, said the catalyst that drew the Cuban American politicians together in Tallahassee for the Cuban cause was the Bush administration's decision last year to repatriate 12 Cubans suspected of hijacking a boat to reach Florida.

After negotiations with Cuba, the United States agreed to return the suspects when Castro's government pledged to spare their lives and sentence them to no more than 10 years in prison.

''That was very hard to swallow,'' Prieguez said. ``It opened my eyes and made me think there's something more that we can do.

``We thought that morally we have an obligation because of who we are, where we come from and the people we represent. It was all about trying to bring a little bit more attention to the issue.''

Critics point out state representatives have practically no clout in international affairs.

Former State Rep. Annie Betancourt, one of the few Cuban-American Democrats elected to office in Tallahassee, said Rivera and lawmakers who claim they can help topple Castro are pandering.

''Come on, topple Castro? You're kidding me,'' she said. ``It's wishful thinking. It's good publicity.''

But Rivera is unfazed by critics. He said he has plenty of time to deal with the Cuba issue after fulfilling his other state duties.

''I think every Cuban American from whatever walk of life has a moral obligation to continue the cause of a free and Democratic Cuba,'' he said.

HOUSE ACTION

Marcelo Llorente, another first-term Cuban-American lawmaker, agrees. In April of last year, Llorente introduced a resolution in the House condemning the Cuban government for its crackdown on peaceful dissidents and expressing solidarity with the Cuban people. He later called a press conference with several other legislators to push the issue.

''It was important for us as Cuban Americans and state elected officials that we support the Cuban people during that very difficult time,'' Llorente said. ``We are all very passionate about issues relating to Cuba.''

For years, Cuban-American elected officials have used their posts -- however small -- to fight the anti-Castro battle. Miami Commissioner Tomas Regalado, for example, has done it for years, rallying his constituents against Cuban bands and artists who come to perform in the city.

UNITY IS NEW

Joe Garcia, executive director for the Cuban American National Foundation, pointed out that other state lawmakers in the past, like former State Reps. Luis Morse and Humberto Cortina, have tried to bring the anti-Castro fight to Tallahassee. But never has there been so much unity.

''I think we have much more cohesion now than at any time in the past,'' Garcia said. ``It shows an understanding that their primary responsibility is to their constituents.''

Since he was elected in November 2002, Rivera has been the most visible Tallahassee lawmaker in the anti-Castro fight.

• In August, he helped draft a letter to President Bush -- signed by the entire Republican Hispanic Caucus -- warning him that Cuban-American support for him may suffer if he didn't get tougher on Cuba.

• In October, he showed up at Miami International Airport to confront and inform people traveling to Cuba as part of a state university program.

• In December, he and other members of the state's Republican Hispanic caucus persuaded Manatee County officials to strip the most inflammatory sentence out of an agreement with the Cuban government to trade products to Cuba through Port Manatee. The sentence said Manatee County had to oppose the U.S. embargo.

• Also in December, Rivera and other Hispanic Republican Caucus members asked Taiwanese officials during a visit there to financially assist Cuban dissidents.

• Next month, Rivera plans to introduce a bill that would force anyone traveling from a Florida airport to a ''terrorist sponsor'' state like Cuba to pay a surcharge.

The money would go to a Homeland Security Trust fund for state airports.

He also wants to make it mandatory for state public colleges and universities that sponsor Cuba trips to submit their itineraries and passenger list before each visit.

It's not surprising that Rivera has chosen to champion the anti-Castro cause, given his background. He spent more than a decade of his early career as a soldier of La Causa, working for the Cuban American National Foundation, Radio and TV Martí, and the Valladares Foundation, an international human rights group.

A PREOCCUPATION

''It's an issue that has preoccupied my entire political career,'' he said.

Not all Cuban-American state legislators see the Cuba issue as a priority. Majority Whip Gaston Cantens said he sees state politicians as playing a ''supportive'' role for the South Florida Congressional delegation.

''We all want to see a free and democratic Cuba,'' he said. ``Some of us perhaps feel that is an issue that needs to be at the forefront in Tallahassee, while others feel it's an issue we can be involved in, but with our congressional delegation.''

Rep. Marco Rubio said people should understand that his priority is state business. But that doesn't mean he can't care about Cuba.

''It shouldn't distract us from our other jobs,'' he said. ``But it's part of who we are and an issue in our community.''