RAUL MARTINEZ, suspended mayor of Hialeah, purports that what was good for Hialeah Park was good for his fair city. Left unsaid was that what was good for the racetrack's clout-wielding owner, John Brunetti, also wasn't half bad for Mr. Martinez.

Mr. Martinez rarely missed a chance to take up the cause of the once-grand racetrack and Mr. Brunetti. He banged long and loud on the doors of Dade County administrators and state lawmakers, clamoring for favorable legislation and, more important, for big bucks.

In doing Mr. Brunetti's bidding, the mayor personally schmoozed, then pushed the county into a questionable $1.85- million settlement for the track owner. He got a delay of a historic designation for the racetrack. And he worked Tallahassee. Mr. Martinez was on the racetrack's board of directors. But as he lobbied legislators for beneficial racing dates, he told them he was acting solely as mayor.

Privately, though, the mayor was working for Mr. Brunetti as a consultant in an Orlando-area land deal, unrelated to racetrack concerns. Mr. Martinez won't disclose records, but says there was no signed contract, no discussion of a fee. It was a gentleman's agreement, and he was paid $25,000. He says he's awaiting even more.

Mr. Martinez, now facing Federal grand-jury charges of bid- rigging and extortion in other cases, apparently cared enough about appearances to keep that aspect of his relationship with Mr. Brunetti under wraps. One wishes that he had cared more about his integrity and the job that Hialeah residents -- not John Brunetti -- hired him to do. If he had, he never would have let the commercial connection with Mr. Brunetti develop.

That Mr. Martinez worked so tirelessly, so ferociously for Mr. Brunetti and his interests points once again to money as the catalyst behind efforts carried out under the banner of civic well-being. And money equals muscle.

The system is in no way unique to the players from Hialeah. But when government goes to the highest bidder, it leaves others voiceless at city hall or the state house or Congress. And that result is a blow to democracy itself.