Bobby Harrell

Robert William "Bobby" 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, also serving as the Speaker of the House from 2005 to 2014.^[1] He resigned from office in October 2014 as part of a plea bargain following a criminal investigation into his using campaign funds for personal use and false reporting of candidate campaign disclosures. Following his conviction on six counts of misconduct, Harrell was sentenced to three years of probation, monetary restitution of $93,958, a $30,000 fine.^[2]

Early political career

Harrell was the chairman of his Freshman Caucus in 1993.^[1] Two years after Harrell was elected, he was appointed to serve on the Ways and Means Committee in 1994. Later, he was elected to serve as Majority Leader from 1997–1999 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.^[1] In South Carolina, State Legislators serve as part-time employees making only $10,400/year.^[3]

Business career and termination of State Farm agency contract

Harrell earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.^[1] He and his wife owned a State Farm Insurance agency, formerly founded and owned by his father and passed down upon his death and Palmetto State Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical repackaging company.^[4] Upon news of Harrell's conviction, State Farm Insurance severed all ties with Harrell after a thirty-four year relationship with Harrell and his father and revoked his State Farm franchise.^[5] However, Harrell and his wife have since opened an independent insurance agency, Harrell Insurance. ^[6]

Political career

Promotion of economic development

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.^[7]

In 2010, Harrell sponsored the S.C. Economic Development Competitiveness Act.^[8]

Harrell was among South Carolina political leaders credited with playing a key role in incentivizing Boeing to build a 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in North Charleston, S.C.^[9]

Election as Speaker of the House

Harrell ran unopposed as Speaker in 2006 and 2008. In September 2010, Ralph Norman challenged Harrell for Speaker. Harrell was re-elected, defeating Norman who only drew five votes of support – including his own vote – among the 124 House members.^[10]

Political contributions

In 2010, Harrell received the largest amount of political contributions – $47,425, or nearly 22 percent – from lawyers and lobbyists, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.^[11] The next-largest amount, $30,100, came from health professionals.^[11] In 2008, Harrell received $361,053 in contributions. The largest contributing industries were real estate ($29,825), and lawyers and lobbyists ($28,000).^[12]

Investigation of campaign contribution misuse and conviction

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.^[13] Harrell informed The Post and Courier that all his expenses were legitimate and the reimbursements were less than the fair market value.^[14]

Having twice denied to advance a complaint filed by the South Carolina Policy Council, on February 14, 2013 state Attorney General Alan Wilson referred the group's ethics complaint to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division for further investigation.^[15][16] The same month, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division announced a probe into the matter.^[17][18] Wilson later returned contributions associated with Harrell after unreported contributions to his own campaign were discovered.^[19]

On September 9, a grand jury in Richland County, South Carolina, indicted Harrell on criminal charges of misconduct in office, using campaign funds for personal use and false reporting of candidate campaign disclosures. House Speaker used campaign money to cover goods and services for his home, friends and family. The indictment further said that Perry thus^[20] between 2009 and 2012, when in fact he unlawfully paid himself $294,000 in untaxed income and used $70,000 to pay an administrative assistant at his insurance firm.

Consequently, on September 11, the House Speaker suspended himself from the state legislature. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson stated that state law and legislative rules barred Harrell from suspending himself because the action implied he had the power to reinstate himself later. Opinions by an attorney general are not legally binding but can be given weight by a court.^[21]

Harrell reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in which he agreed to resign his office and become an informant in other related cases.^[22] He still appeared on the ballot in the 2014 elections. Democratic nominee Mary Tinkler won the seat but Harrell still carried Dorchester County even with signs stating he was disqualified.^[23]

References

External links

• South Carolina Legislature – Speaker Robert W. Harrell, Jr. – official SC Legislature website
• Project Vote Smart – Representative Robert 'Bobby' W. Harrell, Jr. (SC) profile
• Robert W. Harrell, Jr. campaign contributions – Follow the Money
• Appearances on C-SPAN