He has also served as Chairman of the Economic Development and the Public Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.

[5] Harrell is credited with negotiating the deal on behalf of the House that brought Boeing to Charleston to build the 787 Dreamliner.

[8] 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.

[11] 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.

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.

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for the seat, but Harrell still carried Dorchester County even with signs in the polling places stating that he had withdrawn from the election.