Parkinson introduces "No Pari-Pari" Act and bill to restore appointed AG; Moylan calls it retaliation

BY PAULY SUBA
Journal Staff

Sen. William A. Parkinson introduced two bills this week aimed at government reform, one targeting nepotism in hiring and another seeking to split the role of Guam’s Attorney General. But Attorney General Douglas B.K. Moylan has pushed back, calling the efforts politically motivated.

The first measure, the “No More Pari Pari Act of 2025,” would prohibit government employees from being hired or directly supervised by relatives, including spouses, parents, siblings, in-laws, and fiancés. Parkinson said the bill is necessary to ensure hiring is based on merit rather than personal connections.

“For too long, merit has not been the guiding principle in how we hire people here,” Parkinson said at a press conference Monday. “Every single person on this island who is well qualified has had a job opportunity wrongly not afforded to them … because of the quality of their connections. And for me, that is corruption.”

Moylan, however, suggested the bill is a response to his corruption investigations, which include inquiries into Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero’s administration and the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA). He also criticized a separate bill from Parkinson that would return the Attorney General to a governor-appointed position while creating an elected Public Prosecutor to handle criminal cases.

“Senator Parkinson seeks to use the legislature to stop this elected attorney general,” Moylan said in a statement. He defended his hiring practices, arguing that appointing trusted individuals is crucial. “Hiring the best and brightest is not enough when in battle. Like Pres. JFK … I need to hire my ‘posse’ to hunt down the law breakers.”

Parkinson’s second bill proposes splitting the Attorney General’s Office into two separate entities: an appointed Attorney General handling civil legal matters and an independently elected Public Prosecutor overseeing criminal cases. He said the move would resolve conflicts of interest within the current system, where the Attorney General both prosecutes cases and advises government agencies.

“This reform isn’t about any individual. It’s about fortifying the integrity of our institutions against corruption,” Parkinson said. “Separating these roles ensures legal counsel and public prosecution each receive the undivided attention they deserve.”

Under the bill, the Public Prosecutor would be elected to a four-year term, operate independently of the governor, and be barred from political party affiliation. Meanwhile, the Attorney General would return to being a gubernatorial appointee with legislative approval, focused solely on civil matters.

Parkinson pointed to a Guam Supreme Court opinion highlighting ethical conflicts when the Attorney General prosecutes cases against agencies it also represents. “Who watches the watchers?” he asked.

If passed, the change would make Guam one of the few U.S. jurisdictions with separately elected prosecutors. Parkinson argued it would improve government accountability. “This is about giving people confidence that the most qualified individuals are enforcing our laws — and being watched themselves,” he said.

Both bills now head to the legislature for review. mbj