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 LegislatureGuampedia. Guam Legislature, Hagatna, Guam. 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.
Early life
Parkinson was born in 1942 in Idaho and served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.Pacific Daily News. Don Parkinson D-Mongmong-Toto-Maite , Hagatna, Guam. He graduated from the University of Idaho law school.The State Bar of California. William Don Parkinson, California.
Law practice
Parkinson was admitted to the State Bar of California on November 25, 1974, served as a staff attorney for the Micronesian Constitutional Convention of 1975, and as a prosecuting attorney for Colfax, Washington.
Guam Legislature Elections ElectionGuam LegislaturePrimary PlacementGeneral PlacementResult 1982 17th Guam Legislature 18 4 ElectedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report - Guam 1983, Hagatna, Guam. 1984 18th Guam Legislature 10 8 ElectedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1984, Hagatna, Guam. 1986 19th Guam Legislature 1 2 ElectedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1986, Hagatna, Guam. 1988 20th Guam Legislature 6 8 ElectedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1988, Hagatna, Guam. 1990 21st Guam Legislature 3 3 ElectedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1990, Hagatna, Guam. 1992 22nd Guam Legislature No primary election 15 ElectedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1992, Hagatna, Guam. 1994 23rd Guam Legislature 4 7 ElectedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1994, Hagatna, Guam. 1996 24th Guam Legislature 8 24 Not electedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, 1996, Hagatna, Guam. 2000 26th Guam Legislature No primary election 26 Not electedGuam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report, Guam - 1998 & 2000, Hagatna, Guam. 2004 28th Guam Legislature 20 N/A Not electedGuam Election Commission. Election 2004 Comparative Analysis Report, Hagatna, Guam. 2006 29th Guam Legislature 10 24 Not electedGuam Election Commission. Election 2006 Comparative Analysis Report, Hagatna, Guam.
Leadership roles Guam LegislatureTermPosition 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 LegislatureTermPositionCommittee 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 Bills and public laws introduced 17th Guam Legislature - Introduced 16 bills,Guam Legislature. Bill Sponsor File - 17th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson, Hagatna, Guam. 2 of which became public laws.Guam Legislature. Public Law 17-41, Hagatna, Guam. 10 January 1984. including Public Law 17-17, which established a 10 year alternative energy plan for Guam.Guam Legislature. Public Law 17-77, Hagatna, Guam. 5 December 1984. 18th Guam Legislature - Introduced 21 bills,Guam Legislature. Bill Sponsor File - 18th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson, Hagatna, Guam. 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.Guam Legislature. Public Law 18-26, Hagatna, Guam. 31 December 1985. 19th Guam Legislature - Introduced 6 public laws,Guam Legislature. 19th Guam Legislature - Public Laws, Hagatna, Guam. including Public Law 19-31, which raised the minimum wage on Guam to $3.75 on January 1, 1989,Guam Legislature. Public Law 19-31, Hagatna, Guam. 26 October 1988. 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.Guam Legislature. Public Law 19-41, Hagatna, Guam. 30 December 1988. 20th Guam Legislature - Introduced 73 bills, 15 of which became public laws,Guam Legislature. 20th Guam Legislature - Public Laws, Hagatna, Guam. including Public Law 20-219 which provided a subsidy for essential power coverage.Guam Legislature. Public Law 20-219, Hagatna, Guam. 30 August 1990.
Unemployment insurance Parkinson introduced unemployment insurance legislation during each of 5 terms: Bill 929 during the 19th,Guam Territorial Law Library. Combined list of bills through 227-30, Hagatna, Guam. Bill 285 during the 20th,Guam Legislature. Bill Sponsor File - 20th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson, Hagatna, Guam. Bill 101 during the 21st, Bill 123 during the 22nd, and Bill 99 during the 23rd Guam Legislatures, respectively.
Speaker of the 23rd Guam Legislature It 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.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.
Candidacy for Attorney General of Guam Parkinson ran for Attorney General of Guam in 2002.Steve Limtiaco. Moylan, Gumataotao team up in General Election AG race, Hagatna, Guam. 30 August 2018. He placed 3rd in the general election in November with 15% of the vote.Guam Election Commission. Election 2002 Comparative Analysis Report, Hagatna, Guam.
Personal life and death Don Parkinson married Marina Parkinson and was the father of 7 children. One of his children, William M. "Will" Parkinson, ran for the Guam Legislature and the Consolidated Commission on Utilities in 2018.Guam Election Commission. 2018 Primary Election Official Results, Hagatna, GuamGuam Election Commission. 2018 General Election Official Results, Hagatna, Guam. William Parkinson was later elected as a senator to the 37th Guam Legislature. Pacific Daily News. More familiar faces head to 37th Guam Legislature., Hagatna, Guam
Parkinson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the late 1980s. He died in the Philippines on August 31, 2020.
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