Incumbent Republican Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart warned Wednesday that electing his opponent -- former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez -- would return South Florida to an era when the community was viewed as a lawless ``Casablanca.''

But Martinez shot back that Diaz-Balart's time in Congress has failed to bring any real benefits to South Florida. He also accused Diaz-Balart of spreading ''lies'' about Martinez's record and not accepting responsibility for his own.

Martinez seeks to replace Diaz-Balart as representative for congressional District 21, from south Broward to south Miami-Dade.

At Wednesday's candidate forum, Diaz-Balart and Martinez outlined sharp differences between each other. Martinez suggested only he holds the key to a brighter future, while Diaz-Balart indicated only he can ensure effective representation and command ''respect'' for the South Florida community in Washington.

Electing Martinez, Diaz-Balart said, would return South Florida to a time when its international reputation was tarnished.

''We have made great progress in this community when we think back upon the image when Miami, greater Miami, was known, or thought of, throughout the world as a kind of Rick's Café in Casablanca,'' Diaz-Balart said, indirectly alluding to Martinez's controversial past.

Martinez was convicted in 1991 in a racketeering and extortion case, but the conviction was reversed on appeal and two subsequent trials ended in hung juries. The government then dropped the case.

Martinez told the audience Diaz-Balart cannot be trusted to continue representing the district because he did nothing to prevent the troubles that have engulfed the country -- from Iraq to the economic downturn.

''Government should be about taking care of people's problems,'' said Martinez, adding that Diaz-Balart and the other Republican incumbents are unwilling to take responsibility for the current crises.

None of the candidates was asked about Cuba, but Martinez ended with a plea to lift existing travel restrictions that limit how often exiles can visit relatives.

Diaz-Balart opposes lifting travel restrictions.

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