Alex Penelas
Encyclopedia
Alexander "Alex" Penelas (born December 18, 1961 in Miami, Florida
) is the former mayor
of Miami-Dade County
, Florida
.
of Cuban descent
, attended college at St. Thomas University
. In 1985, he received his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law
, where he graduated cum laude and was inducted into the university's prestigious Iron Arrow Honor Society
.
Penelas and his wife, Lilliam, have two sons, William and Christopher.
from 1987 to 1990. In 1990, he became the youngest county commissioner in Dade County history. On October 1, 1996, Penelas became the first Executive Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Unlike the majority of Cuban American leaders in Florida, Penelas is a member of the Democratic Party.
Magazine named Penelas as "America's sexiest politician."
controversy in 2000, Penelas vowed that he would do nothing to assist the Clinton administration and federal authorities in their bid to return the six-year-old boy to Cuba
.
Later, presumably in retaliation for the Clinton administration's handling of the Elian Gonzalez matter, Penelas refused to campaign alongside Al Gore
during Gore's 2000 presidential bid, and made no comments during the controversy over Miami-Dade County's ballots in the aftermath of the election.
Critics allege that Penelas' failure to intervene in the Dade County ballot controversy, including failing to provide adequate security at the Dade County Building during the Brooks Brothers riot
, was a contributing factor to George W. Bush
's ultimate victory in the controversial election.
, Penelas was unable to match the popularity or fundraising levels of rivals Betty Castor
and Peter Deutsch
in the August 2004 primary. His campaign was made more difficult when Al Gore termed him the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with in the 2000 election. Gore's remarks hurt Penelas with Democratic voters. He lost the primary, winning a mere ten percent of the vote.
television.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
) is the former mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Schooling and personal life
Penelas, an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of Cuban descent
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
, attended college at St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University (Florida)
St. Thomas University is a private Roman Catholic university in the Miami, Florida, United States suburb of Miami Gardens.-History:The University traces its roots to the Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, founded in 1946 in Havana, Cuba, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova, by...
. In 1985, he received his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
, where he graduated cum laude and was inducted into the university's prestigious Iron Arrow Honor Society
Iron Arrow Honor Society
The Iron Arrow Honor Society is a highly selective secret society and honor society at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida for students, faculty, staff and alumni...
.
Penelas and his wife, Lilliam, have two sons, William and Christopher.
Offices held
Penelas served on the city council of Hialeah, FloridaHialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
from 1987 to 1990. In 1990, he became the youngest county commissioner in Dade County history. On October 1, 1996, Penelas became the first Executive Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Unlike the majority of Cuban American leaders in Florida, Penelas is a member of the Democratic Party.
"America's Sexiest Politician"
In 1999, PeoplePeople (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
Magazine named Penelas as "America's sexiest politician."
Elian Gonzalez controversy
During the Elián GonzálezElián González
The custody and immigration status of a young Cuban boy, Elián González , was at the center of a heated 2000 controversy involving the governments of Cuba and the United States, González's father, Juan Miguel González Quintana, González's other relatives in Miami, Florida, and in Cuba, and Miami's...
controversy in 2000, Penelas vowed that he would do nothing to assist the Clinton administration and federal authorities in their bid to return the six-year-old boy to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Later, presumably in retaliation for the Clinton administration's handling of the Elian Gonzalez matter, Penelas refused to campaign alongside Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
during Gore's 2000 presidential bid, and made no comments during the controversy over Miami-Dade County's ballots in the aftermath of the election.
Critics allege that Penelas' failure to intervene in the Dade County ballot controversy, including failing to provide adequate security at the Dade County Building during the Brooks Brothers riot
Brooks Brothers riot
The Brooks Brothers riot is the term coined to describe the demonstration at a meeting of election canvassers in Miami-Dade County, Florida on November 19, 2000, during a recount of votes made during the 2000 United States presidential election...
, was a contributing factor to George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's ultimate victory in the controversial election.
U.S. Senate candidacy
As a candidate in the United States Senate election in Florida, 2004United States Senate election in Florida, 2004
The 2004 United States Senate election in Florida took place on November 2, 2004 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob...
, Penelas was unable to match the popularity or fundraising levels of rivals Betty Castor
Betty Castor
Betty Castor , neeElizabeth Bowe, is an American educator and former politician and elected officeholder. Castor was elected to the Florida Senate and the Florida Education Commissioner, and she later served as the President of the University of South Florida, and President of the National Board...
and Peter Deutsch
Peter Deutsch
Peter R. Deutsch is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. Deutsch was a Democratic Representative from Florida's 20th congressional district from 1993 until 2005.- Background :...
in the August 2004 primary. His campaign was made more difficult when Al Gore termed him the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with in the 2000 election. Gore's remarks hurt Penelas with Democratic voters. He lost the primary, winning a mere ten percent of the vote.
Univision
Penelas serves currently as a political analyst for Spanish-language UnivisionUnivision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
television.
External links
- Alex Penelas profile at NNDB.
- "Alex Penelas Contronts a Tough Critic: His Own Party", St. Petersburg TimesSt. Petersburg TimesThe St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
, August 31, 2003. - "Alex Penelas, former Miami-Dade Mayor, to Provide Political Commentary and Analysis for Univision", UnivisionUnivisionUnivision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
statement, December 17, 2004. - Alex Penelas quotes at Thinkexist.com.
- "Al Politics Is Loco", The American SpectatorThe American SpectatorThe American Spectator is a conservative U.S. monthly magazine covering news and politics, edited by R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. and published by the non-profit American Spectator Foundation. From its founding in 1967 until the late 1980s, the small-circulation magazine featured the writings of authors...
, June 8, 2004. - Alex Penelas at University of Miami Famous Alumni.