Hundreds of area residents showed up Monday night to hear federal and state incumbents and challengers speak at a meet the candidates forum hosted by the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations.

Five of the six candidates running for the three Congressional seats up for grabs attended.

Congressional District 21 Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Miami) and former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez (D-Miami) were first to speak.

Martinez said one of the main reasons he entered the race was to end the costly war in Iraq.

``We need to forget why and when we went in, and now focus on getting out. We need the money here at home. We should take the money going to Iraq and put it into needed public transportation for Kendall.''

Diaz-Balart responded by focusing on his past accomplishments in the local community.

''I believe when you analyze my record and preparation, I have stood the test,'' Diaz-Balart said. ``I have brought funds for transportation into this community and doubled the aid that comes from Washington.''

District 25 candidates Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Miami) and Joe Garcia (D-Miami) followed with what was probably the most heated discussion of the night.

''I would like to thank my opponent for driving through four congressional districts and over a body of water to get here tonight,'' Mario Diaz-Balart said.

''In response to my opponents comment, I was born and raised in this community while he was busy dropping out of college in Central Florida,'' said Garcia, a former Miami-Dade Democratic party chairman.

According to Mario Diaz-Balart, one of his main concerns is the escalating energy crisis.

''Two years ago, I caught a little heat for voting for less dependence on foreign oil,'' he said. ``That was when gas was at $30 a tank. Now that gas is at $50 or $60 a tank, we need clean coal technology and to drill offshore.''

''Drilling off our shores is not the answer,'' Garcia said. ``If we have one oil spill on our beaches, we will lose one of our biggest tourist attractions.''

Incumbent District 18 Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Miami) was the only candidate not present. According to KFHA secretary Frank Cobo, she had two prior engagements.

Challenger Annette Taddeo (D-Miami) spoke.

''Frankly, I am against the bailout,'' Taddeo said. ``The last thing we need to do is write Wall Street a blank check from our tax dollars. Our tax dollars should come back to our community for our schools and our roads.''

She said Ros-Lehtinen has refused eight separate opportunities to an open debate.

Florida House candidates Rep. Juan Zapata (R-Miami) and Michael Calderin (D-Miami) finished the night with their views on local housing and population densities.

''I have always voted on better development, lower density and better housing,'' Zapata said. ``Our roads, schools and infrastructure are already strained and we do not have enough parks and police services. If there is going to be any new development, community councils need to be pushed to lower density.''

Calderin responded: ``Lower density is not always the answer. We need more hubs like downtown Dadeland for people to walk around. We should be able to commute to eat or work without sitting in a car for an hour and half.''

District 120 incumbent Rep. Ron Saunders (D-Miami) also attended the rally. His opponent Eddie Hernandez dropped out of the race, automatically making Saunders the winner.

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