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Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2009

Midstate without MADD chapter after second resignation

Middle Georgia is now without a local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The second member of MADD has resigned following Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena’s court testimony on behalf of a friend convicted of driving drunk.

Byron resident Corey Gunnin’s resignation comes after that of fellow volunteer Jackie Wilder. The two said they didn’t feel like they were getting support from the state MADD office as they voiced opposition to Modena’s testimony in his campaign finance manager’s wife’s trial.

“We feel like we’re fighting this battle by ourselves,” said Gunnin, who resigned last week. Wilder, of Gray, resigned in May.

Gunnin said he believes the sheriff should not have testified because of a conflict of interest.

“I just personally feel like he shouldn’t have gotten involved,” he said.

Denise Thames, Executive Director for MADD in Georgia, said she respects Gunnin’s and Wilder’s feelings and opinions. She said she apologizes if anyone else was offended by her office not taking a stand against Modena testifyng on behalf of a drunk driver.

“We sincerely apologize and hope we can restore the relationships with MADD,” she said, adding she has spoken with Modena about the issue.

Modena said he didn’t mean to disrespect the MADD volunteers in his testimony and he hopes more volunteers will come forward.

“I deeply respect the MADD group,” he said. “They do a lot of good work.”

Modena said he hopes to partner with MADD and the court system to build a long- term treatment program for people accused of alcohol offenses.

But without MADD volunteers in Middle Georgia, the victim impact panels that allow people who have lost loved ones to drunk driving crashes to tell their stories to offenders may be in jeopardy, Thames said.

The panels were organized by Wilder and Gunnin.

Now, there’s no one to lead them, she said.

Thames said employees from MADD’s Atlanta office will facilitate the panels scheduled for July 11 and Oct. 10 in Macon and July 28 and Oct. 27 in Warner Robins, but dates in 2010 may not be scheduled unless more volunteers step forward.

Assistant Bibb County Solicitor Cindy Adams said the panels are a useful tool the courts use in sentencing people convicted of DUI in hopes of showing them the potential impact of their actions.

She said people convicted of underaged drinking, alcohol-related offenses and young people who commit traffic offenses often are sentenced to attend the panels.

“It’s a reminder of where bad driving can lead and where drinking can lead,” Adams said.

Hearing victims’ families talk serves as a reality check, she said.

“I think it’s a great program,” Adams said. “I’d hate to lose it.”

Thames said there are six other community action sites in the state that organize victim’s impact panels. The panels are located in Cherokee County, Forsyth County, Carrolton, Athens, Norman Park and Savannah.

In addition to leading the victim impact panels, MADD volunteers work to spread awareness about drunk driving and give support to people who lost friends and family members in DUI crashes, Thames said.

Anyone who wants information about becoming a MADD volunteer can call (770) 615-3737 or go to www.maddga.org.

Information from The Telegraph’s archives was included in this report. To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398.