1996 Metro-Dade County mayoral election

Last updated
1996 Dade County mayoral election
Flag of Miami-Dade County, Florida.svg
 1993September 1, 1996, October 1, 19962000 
  Mayor Alex Penelas photo circa 2002.jpg
Candidate Alex Penelas Arthur Teele
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote197,797128,818
Percentage60.56%39.44%

Mayor before election

Stephen P. Clark
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Alex Penelas
Democratic

The 1996 Metro-Dade County mayoral election took place on September 1, 1996. It was the first election in the Metro Dade County area (now Miami-Dade County) since the election of Stephen P. Clark. The election pitted various well-known and popular figures in the Miami-Dade area. Maurice Ferre and Xavier Suarez (both former Mayors of Miami) and former rivals in the 1987 Miami Mayor race, Arthur Teele (a wealthy African-American County Commissioner) and young former Hialeah City Councilman Alex Penelas along with several other minor candidates. County Commissioners Arthur Teele and Alex Penelas went on to the run-off. Penelas's victory made him the first Cuban-American mayor in Dade County and as of 2020, the only Democrat Cuban-American. Penelas also has the distinction of being the youngest mayor elected in Miami Dade County history at the age of 34. Arthur Teele was the first African American man to run for Dade County mayor.

Contents

Candidates

First round election results

Dade County mayoral election, 1996 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Alex Penelas 97,968 36.78%
Republican Arthur Teele 67,240 25.25%
Democratic Maurice Ferre 55,23920.74%
Independent Xavier Suarez 36,72510.98%
Independent William Perry4,2431.59%
Independent Charles F Knapp1,6620.62%
Independent Clennon W King9130.34%
Independent Socialist Rachele Fruit7410.28%

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References

  1. "Our Campaigns - Dade County Mayor - Primary Race - Sep 02, 1996". www.ourcampaigns.com.