1996 Dade County mayoral election

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1996 Dade County mayoral election
Flag of Miami-Dade County, Florida (1981-1997).svg
 1992September 3, 1996
October 1, 1996
2000  
  Mayor Alex Penelas photo circa 2002.jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Alex Penelas Arthur Teele
First round97,968
36.78%
67,240
25.25%
Runoff 197,797
60.56%
128,818
39.44%

  3x4.svg 3x4.svg
Candidate Maurice Ferré Xavier Suarez
First round55,239
20.74%
36,725
13.79%
Runoff EliminatedEliminated

Mayor before election

Position established

Elected mayor

Alex Penelas
Nonpartisan

The 1996 Dade County mayoral election took place on October 1, 1996, following a primary election on September 3, 1996. The election was the first one to take place following an October 1992 referendum that established the office following the 1992 abolition of the previous mayoral position, which was largely ceremonial. [1] Eleven candidates ran in the formally nonpartisan election, and the leading candidates were County Commissioners Alex Penelas, Arthur Teele, and Maurice Ferré, as well as former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez. Penelas placed first in the primary with 37 percent of the vote, and advanced to a runoff election against Teele, who placed second with 25 percent. In the runoff election, Penelas defeated Teele in a landslide, winning 61 percent of the vote to Teele's 39 percent.

Contents

Primary election

Candidates

Results

1996 Dade County mayoral primary election [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Alex Penelas 97,968 36.78%
Nonpartisan Arthur Teele 67,240 25.25%
Nonpartisan Maurice Ferré55,23920.74%
Nonpartisan Xavier Suarez36,72513.79%
Nonpartisan William Perry4,2431.59%
Nonpartisan Charles F. Knapp, Jr.1,6620.62%
Nonpartisan Clennon King9130.34%
Nonpartisan Rachele Fruit7410.28%
Nonpartisan Juan Miguel Alfonso6360.24%
Nonpartisan Manny Gonzalez-Goenaga5350.20%
Nonpartisan Dori De Falco4290.16%
Total votes266,331 100.00%

Runoff election

Results

1996 Dade County mayoral runoff election [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Alex Penelas 197,797 60.56%
Nonpartisan Arthur Teele128,81839.44%
Total votes326,615 100.00%

References

  1. Filkins, Dexter (October 3, 1992). "Dade overwhelmingly approves strong-mayor plan on third try". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. p. 11A. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  2. Branch, Karen (January 25, 1996). "Penelas joins race for mayor of Dade". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  3. Tanfani, Joseph (June 12, 1996). "Teele giving up post as county chairman to run for mayor". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  4. Tanfani, Joseph (June 15, 1996). "Ferre jumps into race for Dade mayor, says he paid off old fine". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  5. Branch, Karen; Filkins, Dexter (September 8, 1995). "Xavier Suarez to run for Metro_Dade mayor". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  6. Marquez Garcia, Sandra (August 31, 1996). "Perry says black constitutents need liberal, black candidate for mayor". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marquez Garcia, Sandra (August 31, 1996). "Lesser-knowns say they're not fringe candidates". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. p. 16A. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  8. "FIRST PRIMARY, NONPARTISAN AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS - DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996". Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections. 1996. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  9. "SECOND PRIMARY, NONPARTISAN AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS - OCTOBER 1, 1996". Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections. 1996. Retrieved July 6, 2025.