{{Short description|American politician (born 1956)}} {{Infobox officeholder | birth_name = Robert William Harrell Jr. | name = Bobby Harrell | image = Treasurer Curtis Loftis & SC Leaders.jpg | order = 59th | office = Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives | term_start = June 21, 2005 | term_end = October 23, 2014 | preceded = David Wilkins | succeeded = Jay Lucas | state_house1 = South Carolina | state1 = South Carolina | district1 = 114th | term_start1 = December 8, 1992 | term_end1 = October 23, 2014 | preceded1 = John C. Rama | succeeded1 = Mary Tinkler | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|03|07}} | birth_place = Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Catherine Smith | profession = Insurance agency owner | alma_mater = {{nowrap|University of South Carolina}} | party = Republican| | caption = Harrell, second from the right, with other South Carolina leaders | children = 2 }}
'''Robert William Harrell Jr.''' (born March 7, 1956) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 114th District, from 1992 to 2014, serving as the Speaker of the House from 2005 to 2014.<ref name="scstatehouse.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0747727183 |title=Robert W. Harrell, Jr |publisher=South Carolina Legislature Online |accessdate=March 12, 2013}}</ref>
==Early political career== Harrell was the chairman of his Freshman Caucus in 1993.<ref name="scstatehouse.gov"/> Two years after Harrell was elected, he was appointed to serve on the Ways and Means Committee in 1994.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}<ref>{{Cite book|title=SC Legislative Manual 1995|publisher=SC|year=1995}}</ref> Later, he was elected to serve as Majority Leader from 1997 to 1999 when he became the Ways and Means Committee Chairman in 1999. He has also served as Chairman of the Economic Development and the Public Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.<ref name="scstatehouse.gov"/> In South Carolina, State Legislators serve as part-time employees making only $10,400 per year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empirecenter.org/html/legislative_salaries.cfm |title=Legislative Salaries Per State |publisher=Empire Center |accessdate=March 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227141948/http://www.empirecenter.org/html/legislative_salaries.cfm |archive-date=February 27, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Business career== Harrell earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.<ref name="scstatehouse.gov"/> He opened an insurance agency representing State Farm Insurance in 1980. In 2010, after his father died, Harrell combined his agency with that of his father in Harrell Square, a shopping center owned by the family. He and his wife Cathy opened an independent insurance agency, Harrell Insurance Agency in 2014. They now represent over 100 companies such as Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Nationwide, Allstate and many more.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Charleston Auto, Home & Business Insurance - Bobby Harrell - Harrell Insurance Agency|url = http://www.harrell-insurance.com/|website = www.harrell-insurance.com|accessdate = 2015-10-09}}</ref> He previously owned Palmetto State Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical repackaging company that he sold in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/07/1189629/bobby-harrell-biography.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411232415/http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/07/1189629/bobby-harrell-biography.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |title=Bobby Harrell and Hugh Leatherman biographies |publisher=The State Newspaper |accessdate=March 7, 2010 }}</ref>
==Political career==
===Promotion of economic development=== Harrell is credited with negotiating the deal on behalf of the House that brought Boeing to Charleston to build the 787 Dreamliner. He was also instrumental in bringing Southwest and JetBlue as carriers to the Charleston Airport.
In 2008, Harrell, legislative leaders and business executives formed the Knowledge Sector Council. In an effort to support South Carolina’s growing knowledge-based economy, the public/private Council was created to encourage research universities, economic development entities, private businesses and state agencies to work together in expanding jobs and economic opportunity.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connor |first=John |url=http://www.scra.org/docs/Econ%20Devel%20plan%20in%20SC%20Senate%20Repub%20Caucus.pdf |title=GOP leaders target job hunt |publisher=South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus |date=July 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005115950/http://www.scra.org/docs/Econ%20Devel%20plan%20in%20SC%20Senate%20Repub%20Caucus.pdf |archivedate=2011-10-05 }}</ref>
In 2010, Harrell sponsored the S.C. Economic Development Competitiveness Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/query.exe?first=DOC&querytext=4478&category=Legislation&session=118&conid=5867275&result_pos=0&keyval=1184478 |title=Session 118 (2009–2010) – South Carolina Economic Development Competitiveness Act of 2010 |publisher=South Carolina Legislature Online |accessdate=March 8, 2013}}</ref>
== Election as Speaker of the House == Harrell ran unopposed as Speaker in 2006 and 2008, and 2012. In 2010, Harrell had a token opponent for Speaker when Ralph Norman challenged Harrell for the Speaker’s office. Harrell was re-elected, defeating Norman who only drew five votes of support – including his own vote – among the 124 House members.<ref>[http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/nov/17/harrell-re-elected-speaker-house-prepares-difficul/ Harrell re-elected speaker, Charleston Post and Courier, November 17, 2010]{{dead link|date=October 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> As Speaker of the House, Harrell effectively controlled policy in South Carolina alongside Hugh Leatherman and Glenn F. McConnell during Governor Mark Sanford's administration.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Wenger|first=Yvonne|date=January 10, 2010|title=Who's in charge?|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/whos-in-charge/article_ef7e9991-fa6b-5ade-b585-bec85bca0d2c.html|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=June 9, 2021|website=Post & Courier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609133556/https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/whos-in-charge/article_ef7e9991-fa6b-5ade-b585-bec85bca0d2c.html |archive-date=2021-06-09 }}</ref>
===Political contributions=== In 2010, Harrell received the largest amount of political contributions – $47,425, or nearly 22 percent – from lawyers and lobbyists, according to OpenSecrets.<ref name="followthemoney.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=123240/ |title=Bobby Harrell, 2010 Campaign Contributions |publisher=OpenSecrets}}</ref> The next largest amount, $30,100, came from health professionals.<ref name="followthemoney.org"/> In 2008, Harrell received $361,053 in contributions. The largest contributing industries were real estate ($29,825), and lawyers and lobbyists ($28,000).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=103902/ |title=Bobby Harrell 2008 Campaign Contributions |publisher=OpenSecrets}}</ref>
===Campaign contributions and receipts === {{see also|South Carolina Statehouse corruption investigation}}
In September 2012, ''The Post and Courier'' reported that Harrell had reimbursed himself more than $325,000 from his campaign war chest since 2008 but had produced no receipts or itemized invoices accounting for the spending.<ref name=Dudley1>{{cite news |last=Dudley |first=Renee |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120924/PC16/120929626/1165/harrell-offers-no-details-on-self-reimbursement-of-325000-from-campaign-funds/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003052926/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120924/PC16/120929626/1165/harrell-offers-no-details-on-self-reimbursement-of-325000-from-campaign-funds |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |title=Harrell offers no details on self-reimbursement of $325,000 from campaign funds |work=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston |date=September 24, 2012}}</ref> Harrell informed ''The Post and Courier'' that all his expenses were legitimate and the reimbursements were less than the fair market value.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121017/PC16/121019369/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019192538/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121017/PC16/121019369 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |title=Harrell's office says speaker reimbursed himself below market value for flights |work=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston |date=October 17, 2012}}</ref>
Harrell provided receipts to an Associated Press reporter who reported that the receipts and invoices were in order.
In October 2014 Harrell pleaded guilty to six counts of misusing campaign money; he was fined $30,000 and required to pay $94,000 to the State’s general fund, received three years of probation, was required to resign his office and was barred from public office for three years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borden |first=Jeremy |title=Bobby Harrell pleads guilty to 6 counts, resigns from House seat No details on reimbursements Harrell repaid self from campaign fundsHarrell planning to plead guilty Palmetto Sunrise: Harrell's hearing and looming resignation |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/bobby-harrell-pleads-guilty-to-6-counts-resigns-from-house-seat-no-details-on-reimbursements/article_ce33a8f7-1ebf-5436-acac-cfba517e3979.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestate.com/2014/10/24/3766835/post-harrell-sc-house-members.html|title=Post-Harrell, SC House members say they want to see changes|last=Self|first=Jamie|publisher=The State|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025210109/http://www.thestate.com/2014/10/24/3766835/post-harrell-sc-house-members.html|archive-date=25 October 2014|accessdate=25 September 2014}}</ref>
Even though he had left office, and was not seeking office, it was too late to remove his name from the ballot in the 2014 elections. Democratic nominee Mary Tinkler received the most votes for the seat, but Harrell still carried Dorchester County even with signs in the polling places stating that he had withdrawn from the election.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Disqualified former House speaker ran a close second in District 114 race|url = http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20141105/PC1603/141109651|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141106214329/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20141105/PC1603/141109651|url-status = dead|archive-date = November 6, 2014|website = Post and Courier|accessdate = 2015-10-09}}</ref>
== Personal life == Harrell has been married to his wife Cathy since July 1979 and they current reside in Charleston, SC. They have two children,<ref name="scstatehouse.gov" /> Trey & Charlotte, as well as two grandchildren.
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080118104324/http://www.scstatehouse.net/members/bios/0747727183.html South Carolina Legislature – Speaker Robert W. Harrell Jr.] – official SC Legislature website * [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=8510 Project Vote Smart – Representative Robert 'Bobby' W. Harrell Jr. (SC)]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} profile * [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=14759 Robert W. Harrell Jr.] campaign contributions – ''Follow the Money'' * {{C-SPAN|1015209}}
{{Speakers of the South Carolina House of Representatives}} {{Portal bar|Politics|United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrell, Bobby}} Category:Republican Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:People from Orangeburg, South Carolina Category:University of South Carolina alumni Category:Speakers of the South Carolina House of Representatives Category:South Carolina politicians convicted of crimes Category:20th-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly