THE FEDERAL indictment of Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez on 11 counts of alleged extortion and racketeering comes as no big surprise. It does, however, come as a big relief.

For five years, the mayor had been the prime object of a massive Federal investigation into alleged "zoning for dollars" in Hialeah. The probe had become one of the worst-kept secrets in Dade County history. On several occasions it had appeared to die out, only to be resurrected months later.
Each time this occurred, the rumor mill at City Hall grew louder and louder. The charismatic Mr. Martinez spent more than one mayoral campaign just defending himself from the myriad accusations that his many political enemies kept floating around. It is no small irony that his nemesis on the city council and one of his fiercest accusers, Councilman Andres Mejides, also was indicted Tuesday on similar charges.

The rumors had grown so, in fact, that for all practical purposes Hialeah's government had virtually come to a standstill. City-council meetings of late had gone from their usual six-hour duration to an average of two hours. Municipal politicos were so embroiled in anticipating the investigation's outcome, and jockeying for power in the event of an indictment, that very few had much time left to dedicate to the normal workings of government.

All the while, Mr. Martinez, whose 12-year political career as the chief administrator of Dade's second-largest city had turned him into one of Florida's most powerful and influential municipal politicians, kept all but daring the Federal Government to indict him. He adamantly proclaimed his innocence then. He still does.

On learning of the indictment, Gov. Bob Martinez suspended the mayor and Mr. Mejides pending the charges' outcome. If convicted, Mr. Martinez could face up to 180 years in prison and $2.25 million in fines. Mr. Mejides could face 120 years and $1.5 million in fines.

After living beneath a dark cloud of rumor and innuendo for five years, Mr. Martinez will finally get his day in court. That should be a welcome relief for everyone concerned: the beleaguered mayor, his city-council colleagues, and the entire community of Hialeah.