1996 Dade County mayoral election

none September 2023 1996 Dade County mayoral election Florida Flag of Miami-Dade County, Florida (1981-1997).svg presidential no September 3, 1996October 1, 1996 1992 Dade County mayoral election 1992 2000 Miami-Dade County mayoral election 2000 First round Runoff Alex Penelas (Miami-Dade mayor) on November 5, 1999.jpg Alex Penelas c0c0c0 97,96836.78% 197,79760.56% Arthur Teele (3x4).jpg Arthur Teele c0c0c0 67,24025.25% 128,81839.44% File:Maurice Ferre 2009 (1).jpg Maurice Ferré c0c0c0 55,23920.74% Eliminated Miami–Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, official portrait (3x4).jpg Xavier Suarez c0c0c0 36,72513.79% Eliminated Mayor Position established 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.Filkins Dexter Dade overwhelmingly approves strong-mayor plan on third try Miami Herald October 3, 1992 Miami, Florida 11A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176114030/ July 6, 2025 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. Primary election Candidates Alex Penelas, County CommissionerBranch Karen Penelas joins race for mayor of Dade Miami Herald January 25, 1996 Miami, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176114161/ July 6, 2025 Arthur Teele, Chairman of the County CommissionTanfani Joseph Teele giving up post as county chairman to run for mayor Miami Herald June 12, 1996 Miami, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176114367/ July 6, 2025 Maurice Ferré, County Commissioner, former Mayor of MiamiTanfani Joseph Ferre jumps into race for Dade mayor, says he paid off old fine Miami Herald June 15, 1996 Miami, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176114499/ July 7, 2025 Xavier Suarez, former Mayor of MiamiBranch Karen Filkins Dexter Xavier Suarez to run for Metro_Dade mayor Miami Herald September 8, 1995 Miami, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176114303/ July 6, 2025 William Perry, former director of the Miami Sports and Exhibition AuthorityMarquez Garcia Sandra Perry says black constitutents need liberal, black candidate for mayor Miami Herald August 31, 1996 Miami, Florida 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176114701/ July 7, 2025 Charles F. Knapp, Jr., pharmacistMarquez Garcia Sandra Lesser-knowns say they're not fringe candidates Miami Herald August 31, 1996 Miami, Florida 16A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176114560/ July 7, 2025 Clennon King, self-proclaimed rabbi, Dean of the Arenia Mallory School of Religion Rachele Fruit, Socialist Workers Party activist Juan Michael Alfonso, accountant, 1993 candidate for Mayor of Hialeah Manny Gonzalez-Goenaga, investor Dori De Falco, investor Campaign Some political analysts speculated that Perry had likely ran at Penelas's behest, doing so in hope that he might draw some support of black voters away from Teele. Both Perry and Teele were black.Ammann Phil With His Background, Alex Penelas Should Consider A Hard Pass On SD 36 https://floridapolitics.com/archives/262662-with-his-background-alex-penelas-should-consider-a-hard-pass-on-sd-36/ Florida Politics May 14, 2026 May 3, 2018 Results 1996 Dade County mayoral primary electionFIRST PRIMARY, NONPARTISAN AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS - DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996 1996 Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections https://www.miamidade.gov/elections/results/ele96247/sep996.txt July 6, 2025 Alex Penelas Nonpartisan candidate 97,968 36.78% Arthur Teele Nonpartisan candidate 67,240 25.25% Maurice Ferré Nonpartisan candidate 55,239 20.74% Xavier Suarez Nonpartisan candidate 36,725 13.79% William Perry Nonpartisan candidate 4,243 1.59% Charles F. Knapp, Jr. Nonpartisan candidate 1,662 0.62% Clennon King Nonpartisan candidate 913 0.34% Rachele Fruit Nonpartisan candidate 741 0.28% Juan Miguel Alfonso Nonpartisan candidate 636 0.24% Manny Gonzalez-Goenaga Nonpartisan candidate 535 0.20% Dori De Falco Nonpartisan candidate 429 0.16% 266,331 100.00% Runoff election Results 1996 Dade County mayoral runoff electionSECOND PRIMARY, NONPARTISAN AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS - OCTOBER 1, 1996 1996 Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections https://www.miamidade.gov/elections/results/ele96275/1Oct96.txt July 6, 2025 Alex Penelas Nonpartisan candidate 197,797 60.56% Arthur Teele Nonpartisan candidate 128,818 39.44% 326,615 100.00% See also 1996 Miami mayoral special election –city of Miami mayoral election held the same year References Category:1996 United States county executive elections Category:Miami-Dade County, Florida Dade County Category:Mayoral elections in Miami-Dade County, Florida