He attended the University of South Florida to study political science before beginning his public service career as an aide to then-Miami Mayor Xavier Suárez in 1985.
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In the mid to late 1990s, the Republican members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – Mexican-American Henry Bonilla of Texas and Cuban-Americans Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida – left the Caucus in protest over its support for improved relations with Cuba.
Diaz-Balart plays a prominent role in the Cuban-American lobby, and was active in the attempt by relatives of Elian Gonzalez to gain custody of the six year old from his Cuban father.
On January 21, 2008, Mr. Martinez announced on the America TeVe show "A Mano Limpia" his intention to run in the November 2008 election for the Florida 21st congressional district seat held by Republican Lincoln Diaz-Balart.