Mr. Harrell served for six years as an attorney advisor, assistant branch chief, and appellate litigator for the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D.C., beginning in 1976. He returned to his hometown of Fort Pierce, Florida, when appointed St. Lucie County Attorney in 1982. After spending over two years in that position, in January 1985 he associated with another attorney to form Gonano & Harrell, where he practiced law from offices in Fort Pierce until April 2023. He has been board certified by The Florida Bar in Education Law since 2011. During his 38+ years in private practice, Mr. Harrell has provided legal services to various local government agencies; has represented local governments and developers in developments of regional impact and smaller projects of various types (residential, commercial, industrial, and marine); has served as local counsel, frequently undertaking validation proceedings, on local government agency bonds, notes, and other issuances and borrowings; and has handled numerous commercial real estate transactions. He was general counsel to over 30 community development districts and other units of special purpose government. Mr. Harrell served as School Board Attorney for The School District of St. Lucie County, Florida, from 1987 until 2021, and was privileged to represent the Board in its successful effort to be declared unitary in 1997, releasing the local school system from 27 years of federal court oversight. He also served as Interim Board Attorney for The School Board of Martin County, Florida, in 1997 and again in 2003. He provided special counsel services to The School Board of Santa Rosa County, Florida, from 2016 until early 2023. He is a past president and emeritus member of the Florida School Board Attorneys’ Association. Education and Background: Mr. Harrell obtained a Bachelor of Industrial and Systems Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1973, and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1976. |