Miami-Dade Mayor Vetoes Contract for Luggage-Wrapping at Airport.

Publication: The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News)

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COPYRIGHT 2001 The Miami Herald

Byline: Tyler Bridges

Feb. 24--Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas Friday blocked a company from getting the lucrative contract to wrap luggage at Miami International Airport, and immediately faced an accusation that he issued the veto because a major campaign supporter was not allowed into the deal.

Enrique "Henry" Ramos, owner of Secure Wrap -- the business awarded the contract by the County Commission last week -- said Penelas acted after Ramos refused the mayor's entreaty to offer a portion of the deal to a company owned by Pedro Palaez, a long-time Penelas political supporter.

Penelas denied having attempted to pressure Ramos, saying that he vetoed the contract because he believes Palaez's firm -- ranked fourth by a county selection committee -- is more deserving. Palaez's attorney also said his client had not tried to force his way into the contract.

Ramos said the mayor made the demand that Palaez get a piece of the contract through Brian May, a Secure Wrap lobbyist who ran the mayor's...

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