Don_Parkinson_(politician)
Don Parkinson (politician)
American politician (1942–2020)
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, US |
Died | August 31, 2020(2020-08-31) (aged 77–78) Philippines |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Marina Parkinson |
Children | 7 |
Education | J.D., University of Idaho |
Parkinson 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]
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.[when?]
Elections
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
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
Bills and public laws introduced
- 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
Parkinson 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
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.[29][30][31]
Parkinson ran for Attorney General of Guam in 2002.[32] He placed 3rd in the general election in November with 15% of the vote.[33]
Don 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]
- Guampedia. Guam Legislature, Hagatna, Guam.
- Martindale-Hubbell (March 2001). Martindale Hubbell Law Directory 2001. Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Incorporated. ISBN 9781561604395.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- "Former Speaker Don Parkinson dies". Archived from the original on 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by | Speaker of the Guam Legislature 1995–1997 |
Succeeded by Antonio "Tony" Unpingco |