Alex Penelas

Alexander Penelas (born December 18, 1961) is a former mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Alex Penelas
5th Mayor of Miami-Dade County
In office
October 1, 1996  November 6, 2004
Preceded byStephen P. Clark
Succeeded byCarlos Alvarez
Member of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners[1][2]
In office
1990–1996
Member of the Hialeah City Council[1][2]
In office
1987–1990
Personal details
Born
Alexander Penelas

(1961-12-18) December 18, 1961
Miami, Florida
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Lilliam
ChildrenWilliam
Christopher
Alexandra
Alma materSt. Thomas University (A.B.)
University of Miami (J.D.)
ProfessionLawyer
Politician

Education and personal life

Penelas, an American of Cuban descent,[1] attended St. Thomas University and graduated in 1981 with a degree in political science.[2][3] In 1985, he received his J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law,[1] where he graduated cum laude and was inducted into the university's Iron Arrow Honor Society.[4]

Penelas and his wife, Lilliam, have two adult sons, William and Christopher, and a younger daughter, Alexandra.[1]

Political life

Alex Penelas served on the city council of Hialeah, Florida from 1987 to 1990.[1][2] In 1990, he was elected to serve as a county commissioner in Dade County.[1]

Miami-Dade Mayor

Penelas ran in 1996 for Mayor of Dade County, renamed Miami-Dade County in 1997.[1][2] Penelas advanced to the runoff for Mayor against fellow Commissoner Arthur Teele.[5] Penelas scored 37% to Teele's 25% with former Mayor of Miami Maurice Ferre and Xavier Suarez in third and fourth.[5] In the run-off Penelas soundly beat Teele with 60.56% to Teele's 39.44%.[1] Penelas ran for reelection in 2000 and beat Miami Dade Commissioner Miguel Diaz de la Portilla with 51.6% to Diaz de la Portilla's 20.9%. Because Peleas reached the 50% threshold, a runoff was not needed.

As mayor, he vocally opposed the repatriation of Elián González in 2000, but was not successful in stopping the repatriation.[1]

2004 Senate campaign

In 2004, Penelas was term-limited as mayor and ran for 2004 United States Senate election in Florida. This was the first open Senate seat since 1980, it was being vacated by longtime incumbent and Dade County native Bob Graham.[1] Penelas finished third in the primary, behind Betty Castor and Peter Deutsch.[1] His campaign was made more difficult when Al Gore called him "the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with during the 2000 presidential election campaign anywhere in America."[6]

2020 mayoral bid

In April 2019, Penelas announced his campaign for re-election to the office of Miami-Dade County Mayor, a position he previously occupied for eight years. Penelas initially led in most polls but finished in third in the first round behind Daniella Levine Cava and Esteban Bovo.[7]

References

  1. Hanks, Douglas (23 July 2020). "Seeking third term as county mayor, Alex Penelas banks on fond memories in Miami-Dade". Miami Herald.
  2. Torres, Ginelle (10 November 2004). "PENELAS RETURNS TO ALMA MATER AS PROFESSOR". South Florida SunSentinel. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. "Outgoing Miami mayor to practice law, teach". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  4. Iron Arrow Honor Society at Notable Names Database.
  5. Navarro, Mireya (1996-09-04). "The Race for Mayor of Dade County Is Headed for a Runoff (Published 1996)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  6. Sokol, Brett (May 26, 2005). "The D Word". Miami New Times.
  7. Hanks, Douglas (14 May 2019), "Running for county mayor again, Alex Penelas snags Miami-Dade's top donor (so far)", Miami Herald, retrieved 15 May 2019
Political offices
Preceded by
Position abolished 1993-1996
Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida
1996-2004
Succeeded by
Carlos Alvarez
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