William Don Parkinson (1942 – August 31, 2020) was an American Veteran and Sergeant of the Vietnam war, politician, and lawyer who served as Speaker of the Guam Legislature[1] from 1995 to 1997 and as Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995. A member of the Democratic Party of Guam, he also served as a Senator for 7 consecutive terms, from 1983 to 1997.
Don Parkinson | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the 23rd Guam Legislature | |
| In office January 2, 1995 – January 6, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Joe T. San Agustin |
| Succeeded by | Antonio R. Unpingco |
| Majority Leader of the Guam Legislature | |
| In office January 2, 1989 – January 1, 1995 | |
| Member of the Guam Legislature | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 6, 1997 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Don Parkinson 1942 Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | August 31, 2020 (aged 77–78) Philippines |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marina Parkinson |
| Children | 7; including William |
| Education | J.D., University of Idaho |
Early life
editParkinson was born in 1942 in Idaho and served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.[2][3][4] He graduated from the University of Idaho law school.[5]
Law practice
editParkinson was admitted to the State Bar of California on November 25, 1974,[1] served as a staff attorney for the Micronesian Constitutional Convention of 1975,[2] and as a prosecuting attorney for Colfax, Washington.[3][when?]
Guam Legislature
editElections
edit| Election | Guam Legislature | Primary Placement | General Placement | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 17th Guam Legislature | 18 | 4 | Elected[6] |
| 1984 | 18th Guam Legislature | 10 | 8 | Elected[7] |
| 1986 | 19th Guam Legislature | 1 | 2 | Elected[8] |
| 1988 | 20th Guam Legislature | 6 | 8 | Elected[9] |
| 1990 | 21st Guam Legislature | 3 | 3 | Elected[10] |
| 1992 | 22nd Guam Legislature | No primary election | 15 | Elected[11] |
| 1994 | 23rd Guam Legislature | 4 | 7 | Elected[12] |
| 1996 | 24th Guam Legislature | 8 | 24 | Not elected[13] |
| 2000 | 26th Guam Legislature | No primary election | 26 | Not elected[14] |
| 2004 | 28th Guam Legislature | 20 | N/A | Not elected[15] |
| 2006 | 29th Guam Legislature | 10 | 24 | Not elected[16][4] |
Leadership roles
edit| Guam Legislature | Term | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 20th Guam Legislature | 1989-1991 | Majority Leader |
| 21st Guam Legislature | 1991-1993 | Majority Leader |
| 22nd Guam Legislature | 1993-1995 | Majority Leader |
| 23rd Guam Legislature | 1995-1997 | Speaker |
| Guam Legislature | Term | Position | Committee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th Guam Legislature | 1987-1989 | Chairman | Committee on Energy, Utilities and Consumer Protection |
| 20th Guam Legislature | 1989-1991 | Chairman | Committee on Energy, Utilities and Consumer Protection |
| 21st Guam Legislature | 1991-1993 | Chairman | Committee on Energy, Utilities and Consumer Protection |
| 22nd Guam Legislature | 1993-1995 | Chairman | Committee on Electrical Power and Consumer Protection |
| 23rd Guam Legislature | 1995-1997 | Chairman | Committee on Electrical Power and Consumer Protection |
Policy
editBills and public laws introduced
edit- 17th Guam Legislature - Introduced 16 bills,[17] 2 of which became public laws.[18] including Public Law 17-17, which established a 10 year alternative energy plan for Guam.[19]
- 18th Guam Legislature - Introduced 21 bills,[20] 1 of which became Public Law 18-26, which approved bond issues on behalf of 2 companies for the Guam Economic Development Authority and for which the Government of Guam disclaimed liability.[21]
- 19th Guam Legislature - Introduced 6 public laws,[22] including Public Law 19-31, which raised the minimum wage on Guam to $3.75 on January 1, 1989,[23] and Public Law 19-41 that requires that food, drugs, and consumer commodities be marked with an expiration date if recommended by the manufacturer or distributor.[24]
- 20th Guam Legislature - Introduced 73 bills,[20] 15 of which became public laws,[25] including Public Law 20-219 which provided a subsidy for essential power coverage.[26]
Unemployment insurance
editParkinson introduced unemployment insurance legislation during each of 5 terms: Bill 929 during the 19th,[27] Bill 285 during the 20th,[28] Bill 101 during the 21st,[27] Bill 123 during the 22nd,[27] and Bill 99 during the 23rd Guam Legislatures, respectively.[27]
Speaker of the 23rd Guam Legislature
editIt had been expected that Senator Thomas C. "Tom" Ada would be chosen by his colleagues as Speaker of the Guam Legislature, but a group of Democratic and Republican Senators elected Parkinson as Speaker, instead.[29][30][31]
Candidacy for Attorney General of Guam
editParkinson ran for Attorney General of Guam in 2002.[32] He placed 3rd in the general election in November with 15% of the vote.[33]
Personal life and death
editDon Parkinson married Marina Parkinson and was the father of 7 children.[4] One of his children, William M. "Will" Parkinson, ran for the Guam Legislature and the Consolidated Commission on Utilities in 2018.[34][35] William Parkinson was later elected as a senator to the 37th Guam Legislature. [36]
Parkinson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the late 1980s. He died in the Philippines on August 31, 2020.[37][38]
References
edit- ^ Guampedia. Guam Legislature, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Martindale-Hubbell (March 2001). Martindale Hubbell Law Directory 2001. Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Incorporated. ISBN 9781561604395.
- ^ "Guam Commonwealth: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Insular and International Affairs of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, First Session, on H.R. 98, Guam Commonwealth Act". 1991.
- ^ a b c Pacific Daily News. Don Parkinson D-Mongmong-Toto-Maite , Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ The State Bar of California. William Don Parkinson, California.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report - Guam 1983, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1984, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1986, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1988, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1990, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1992, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1994, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1996, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, Guam - 1998 & 2000, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election 2004 Comparative Analysis Report, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election 2006 Comparative Analysis Report, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Bill Sponsor File - 17th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 17-41, Hagatna, Guam. 10 January 1984.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 17-77, Hagatna, Guam. 5 December 1984.
- ^ a b Guam Legislature. Bill Sponsor File - 18th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 18-26, Hagatna, Guam. 31 December 1985.
- ^ Guam Legislature. 19th Guam Legislature - Public Laws, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 19-31, Hagatna, Guam. 26 October 1988.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 19-41, Hagatna, Guam. 30 December 1988.
- ^ Guam Legislature. 20th Guam Legislature - Public Laws, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 20-219, Hagatna, Guam. 30 August 1990.
- ^ a b c d Guam Territorial Law Library. Combined list of bills through 227-30, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Bill Sponsor File - 20th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guampedia. Republican Party of Guam, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Haidee V. Eugenio. Democrats pick Barnes as speaker, Nelson as vice speaker, committee chairmanships, Hagatna, Guam. 4 January 2019.
- ^ Haidee V. Eugenio. Minority wants bills heard within 90 days instead of 180 days, Barnes poised to become next speaker, Hagatna, Guam. 3 January 2019.
- ^ Steve Limtiaco. Moylan, Gumataotao team up in General Election AG race, Hagatna, Guam. 30 August 2018.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. Election 2002 Comparative Analysis Report, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Guam Election Commission. 2018 Primary Election Official Results, Hagatna, Guam
- ^ Guam Election Commission. 2018 General Election Official Results, Hagatna, Guam.
- ^ Pacific Daily News. More familiar faces head to 37th Guam Legislature., Hagatna, Guam
- ^ "Pacific Daily News Obituaries and Guestbooks".
- ^ "Former Speaker Don Parkinson dies". Archived from the original on 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-08-31.