Don Parkinson (politician) facts for kids

William Don Parkinson (1942 – August 31, 2020) was an American veteran, politician, and lawyer. He was a very important leader in the Legislature of Guam, which is like Guam's parliament. He served as the Speaker from 1995 to 1997. Before that, he was the Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995. Don Parkinson was a member of the Democratic Party of Guam. He was also a Senator for seven terms, from 1983 to 1997.

Don Parkinson's Early Life and Education

Don Parkinson was born in 1942 in Idaho, a state in the United States. He served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. After his military service, he went to law school. He earned his law degree from the University of Idaho.

Don Parkinson's Career as a Lawyer

After finishing law school, Don Parkinson became a lawyer. He was allowed to practice law in California in 1974. He worked as a staff attorney for the Micronesian Constitutional Convention in 1975. This was a meeting where leaders helped create a constitution for Micronesia. He also worked as a prosecuting attorney in Colfax, Washington. A prosecuting attorney works for the government to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes.

Don Parkinson's Time in the Guam Legislature

Don Parkinson was a key figure in the Legislature of Guam. This is the group of elected officials who make laws for Guam. He served as a Senator for many years.

How Don Parkinson Was Elected

Don Parkinson was elected to the Guam Legislature several times. He first became a Senator in 1982. He was re-elected in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994. This means he served for seven terms in a row. He worked hard to represent the people of Guam.

Don Parkinson's Leadership Roles

During his time in the Legislature, Don Parkinson held important leadership jobs.

• From 1989 to 1995, he was the Majority Leader. This means he was the main leader for the political party that had the most members.
• From 1995 to 1997, he became the Speaker of the 23rd Guam Legislature. The Speaker is the highest-ranking leader in the Legislature. They lead meetings and make sure rules are followed.

He also led important committees.

• From 1987 to 1993, he was the Chairman of the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Consumer Protection.
• From 1993 to 1997, he was the Chairman of the Committee on Electrical Power and Consumer Protection. These committees dealt with important issues like electricity and protecting people who buy things.

Laws Don Parkinson Helped Create

Don Parkinson helped introduce many bills that became laws. Here are some examples:

• In the 17th Guam Legislature, he helped create a 10-year plan for using alternative energy sources on Guam. This was to find new ways to power the island.
• In the 19th Guam Legislature, he helped raise the minimum wage in Guam to $3.75 in 1989. This meant people earned more money for their work. He also helped pass a law requiring food and medicine to have expiration dates. This helps keep people safe.
• In the 20th Guam Legislature, he helped pass a law that provided money to help people pay for essential electricity.

Don Parkinson and Unemployment Insurance

Don Parkinson cared about people who lost their jobs. He introduced bills about unemployment insurance during five of his terms. Unemployment insurance helps people get some money when they are out of work.

Don Parkinson Becomes Speaker

Many people thought another Senator would become Speaker in 1995. But a group of Senators from both the Democratic and Republican parties chose Don Parkinson instead. This showed that he was respected by people from different political groups.

Don Parkinson Runs for Attorney General

In 2002, Don Parkinson tried to become the Attorney General of Guam. This person is the chief legal officer for the government. He placed third in the election.

Don Parkinson's Family and Later Life

Don Parkinson was married to Marina Parkinson. They had seven children together. One of his children, William M. "Will" Parkinson, also became a politician. Will Parkinson was elected as a Senator to the 37th Guam Legislature.

Don Parkinson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the late 1980s. This is a condition that affects movement. He passed away in the Philippines on August 31, 2020.