James Andrew "Jim" Harrell III served three terms as a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's ninetieth House district, including constituents in Alleghany and Surry counties. Harrell is originally from Elkin, North Carolina and later moved to Roaring Gap. As of 2011, Harrell is a lobbyist, running his own firm, James A. Harrell III and Associates, LLC, in Raleigh.

Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township. The population was 4,122 at the time of the 2020 census.