Quick Facts
Biography
William D. "Don" Parkinson is a lawyer and former Democratic Party of Guam politician in Guam. Parkinson served as Speaker of the 23rd Guam Legislature and Senator in the Guam Legislature for 7 consecutive terms.
Early career
Parkinson served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.
Education
Parkinson graduated from the University of Idaho law school.
Legal career
Parkinson was admitted to the The State Bar of California on November 25, 1974. Parkinson served as a staff attorney for the Micronesian Constitutional Convention of 1975. Parkinson served as a prosecuting attorney for Colfax, Washington.
Guam Legislature
Elections
| Election | Guam Legislature | Primary Placement | General Placement | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 17th Guam Legislature | 18 | 4 | Elected |
| 1984 | 18th Guam Legislature | 10 | 8 | Elected |
| 1986 | 19th Guam Legislature | 1 | 2 | Elected |
| 1988 | 20th Guam Legislature | 6 | 8 | Elected |
| 1990 | 21st Guam Legislature | 3 | 3 | Elected |
| 1992 | 22nd Guam Legislature | No primary election | 15 | Elected |
| 1994 | 23rd Guam Legislature | 4 | 7 | Elected |
| 1996 | 24th Guam Legislature | 8 | 24 | Not elected |
| 2000 | 26th Guam Legislature | No primary election | 26 | Not elected |
| 2004 | 28th Guam Legislature | 20 | N/A | Not elected |
| 2006 | 29th Guam Legislature | 10 | 24 | Not elected |
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, 2 of which became public laws. including Public Law 17-17, which established a 10 year alternative energy plan for Guam.
- 18th Guam Legislature - Introduced 21 bills, 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.
- 19th Guam Legislature - Introduced 6 public laws, including Public Law 19-31, which raised the minimum wage on Guam to $3.75 on January 1, 1989, 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.
- 20th Guam Legislature - Introduced 73 bills, 15 of which became public laws, including Public Law 20-219 which provided a subsidy for essential power coverage.
Unemployment insurance
Parkinson introduced unemployment insurance legislation during each of 5 terms: Bill 929 during the 19th, Bill 285 during the 20th, 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.
Candidacy for Attorney General of Guam
Parkinson ran for Attorney General of Guam in 2002. He placed 3rd in the general election in November with 15% of the vote.
Family
Don Parkinson is married to Marina Parkinson, and is 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.