William E. Harrell,
City Manager

William E. Harrell is the City Manager of Chesapeake, Virginia (population approximately 225,000).  As the top administrator of Virginia’s third largest city, Harrell oversees the day-to-day operations of the City, manages an operating budget of more than $900 million and leads 4,000-plus full and part-time municipal employees.  Born and raised in Chesapeake, Harrell continues to develop his reputation for successful local government leadership in his hometown.

Under Harrell’s tenure, Chesapeake has seen its general obligation bond rating upgraded to “AA+” from “AA.”  This achievement, coupled with Chesapeake’s solid financial performance and strong reserve levels, puts the City on a solid financial footing even in today’s challenging economic climate.

In July of 2010, Fitch Rating Service has assigned the City of Chesapeake the highest bond rating available, “AAA,” the first in the City’s history.  Fitch cited the City’s, “excellent financial management and conservative debt structure.”  To achieve this first-ever rating, given the many challenges faced by municipalities nationwide from softer markets, to rising health care and energy costs, to post-employment benefit obligations, is a monumental milestone.  Every citizen and employee of the City of Chesapeake benefits from this exemplary rating through the low interest rates the City will be able to realize on future debt costs.

Harrell is committed to keeping Chesapeake moving forward, while maintaining the City’s commitment to open, responsive and citizen-focused customer service.  Under his tenure, the City has instituted an extremely successful shift to “big bin” recycling, opened a modernized fire station to replace one first occupied before Chesapeake’s creation, and inaugurated many new initiatives in both the human services and technology arenas.

Harrell continues to challenge the City staff, at all levels, to find better, more cost-effective ways to deliver services.  A tightening budget for FY2010-2011 has meant some tough choices for the City, with additional challenges expected in the coming years as the local and national economy recover.  Believing that “tough times make strong leaders,” and that the future may mean “doing less with less,” Harrell has placed the City’s focus on delivering the core services in the best manner possible, for all citizens.  Chesapeake will be the first municipality in the Commonwealth to implement the best management practice of prioritization.  This analytical tool will enable City Council to evaluate programs and services based on the City’s strategic priorities, in an objective and transparent manner.

Harrell is designated a “Credentialed Manager” by the International City and County Management Association, the nation’s premier local government leadership and management organization.  He is one of 1,200 local government management professionals worldwide to hold this designation, which denotes a demonstrated commitment to high standards of integrity, significant senior management experience, and a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.

Prior to taking on the role of City Manager in Chesapeake, Harrell served as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the City of Richmond, Virginia.  As CAO, Harrell managed City operations, including more than 20 departments and agencies, and a total budget in excess of $800 million. His administration attracted more than $450 million in investment in the City of Richmond.  Harrell was also responsible for transitioning the organization and staff into a new, strong-Mayor form of government.

Harrell began his work in Richmond as Deputy City Manager, with responsibility for the City’s operations portfolio, which included the departments of Economic and Community Development, Real Estate, Public Works and Utilities.  He was serving as Interim City Manager prior to being appointed Interim City Administrator by former Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. The Mayor and City Council subsequently confirmed him as the City’s first Chief Administrative Officer on March 24, 2005.

He went to Richmond after three years as Assistant City Manager in the City of Greensboro, North Carolina, where he played a key role in the City’s business development and strategic planning efforts. His responsibilities included coordination of the infrastructure departments — Water Resources, Transportation, Planning, Environmental Services and Parks and Recreation.

Harrell’s experience in Greensboro was preceded by 10 years in the City of Suffolk, Virginia, where he served as Director of Public Utilities and eventually Assistant City Manager. His accomplishments for the City included the implementation of a $6.8 million desalination plant for water purification, a first in Virginia, and the revision of a comprehensive land use plan involving community input in the City’s future.

A rising leader in public administration, William Harrell was honored by the Virginia Chapter for the American Society for Public Administration with the G. Robert House Young Public Administrator Award.

A 1980 graduate of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Harrell earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Virginia. Additionally, he earned a second master’s in Public Administration from the University. 
Harrell’s wife of 22 years, Johnna, is a 1981 graduate of Chesapeake’s Western Branch High School. They have a 19 year-old daughter, Charity Majette, who has followed her father’s example and attends the University of Virginia. Both William and Johnna’s parents reside in Chesapeake.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                    Revised 8/2010