Bobby Harrell

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.^[5]

In 2010, Harrell sponsored the S.C. Economic Development Competitiveness Act.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8] The next-largest amount, $30,100, came from health professionals.^[8] In 2008, Harrell received $361,053 in contributions. The largest contributing industries were real estate ($29,825), and lawyers and lobbyists ($28,000).^[9]

Investigation of campaign contributions

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.^[10] Harrell informed The Post and Courier that all his expenses were legitimate and the reimbursements were less than the fair market value.^[11]

About a week later, Harrell provided receipts to an Associated Press reporter who reported that she had seen them, and that they were in order.

Having twice denied to advance a complaint filed by the South Carolina Policy Council, on February 14, 2013 state Attorney General Alan Wilson gave in to the pressure from this political group and referred the group's ethics complaint to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division for further investigation.^[12][13] The same month, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division announced a probe into the matter.^[14][15]

Wilson later claimed that he returned contributions associated with Harrell after unreported contributions to his own campaign were discovered.^[16] These alleged repayments by the AG were never received by Harrell. That money is still in the campaign account of the AG

On September 9, a grand jury in Richland County, South Carolina, charged Harrell with misdemeanor charges of misconduct in office, using campaign funds for personal use and false reporting of candidate campaign disclosures. Later, most of these charges were dropped.

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, and this opinion had no impact on Harrell’s decision.

Harrell reached an agreement regarding only the use of a private airplane, that was mostly used for political speeches and fundraising events for other house members.

All other charge were dropped. He agreed to leave office, pay a fine and not seek elective office for 3 years.^[17] 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 in the polling place stating that he had withdrawn from the election.^[18]