MADD Chief Replaced by S.D. County Chapter Head

Norma Phillips, an Escondido businesswoman and president of the San Diego chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, was chosen Friday as president and chief spokeswoman of the national organization, replacing Candy Lightner, who founded MADD.

Phillips, 47, whose only son was killed by a drunk driver on Thanksgiving Day 1981, founded the San Diego chapter a year later.

Lightner, who initiated the national crusade after her 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 1980 and whose efforts to stiffen drunk-driving laws were popularized by a made-for-TV movie, will remain with the organization as a consultant for media and legislative relations, directors said.

The directors announced their choice of a new president after a meeting in Grapevine, Tex., near MADD’s national office.

In making the leadership change, the directors also selected John Wheeler, a Washington attorney, as chairman of the board and Donald Schaet, former associate director of development at the University of Rochester in New York, as chief executive officer.

Lightner had previously held those positions as well as the presidency.

While MADD boasts of being the most successful grass-roots organization in the United States with 364 chapters and 600,000 members nationwide, it was criticized earlier this year by the Better Business Bureau and the National Charities Information Bureau, which in separate reports said the organization spent too much money on administration and fund-raising.

MADD revenues exceeded $12.5 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984.

MADD’s directors said Friday that the selection of Phillips reflected a “more broad-based management structure.”

Phillips and her husband, Harold, own four companies in Escondido, involved in precision measuring-tool manufacturing, pool construction, retail pool supplies and cement-asphalt treatments.

Described by friends and associates as an articulate and attractive dynamo with business savvy, Phillips said in a telephone interview before flying home from Dallas that she envisioned no changes in MADD’s direction under her leadership.

She said that, while MADD would continue to support victims of drunk drivers and work for legislation to get drunk drivers off the road, attention would also be directed to addressing the criticism that too much money is spent on overhead.

“By adding the additional leadership, we think we will be strengthening the organization,” she said.

No other person was nominated to take over the national presidency, Phillips said, and it was still unclear whether she would serve for one or two years. She said she would not draw a salary--Lightner was paid $76,000 a year--but would be reimbursed for expenses incurred because of the position.

She said MADD would maintain its national office in Hurst, Tex., a suburb of Dallas.

The executive committee allowed Lightner’s contract as president, chief executive officer and board chairman to lapse June 30. Directors said her salary was not an issue but declined to pay her $10,000 when they asked her to remain as chief executive officer for two to three months without a contract, Lightner said last week in disclosing the pending leadership upheaval.

“I hope to go on with MADD,” she told the Associated Press at the time. “I feel I am being punished for its success.”

Lightner declined to discuss the leadership change Friday, the AP said. But in addition to serving as a media and legislative consultant, she will serve as a member of the legislative and program policy committee of the board of directors and “will continue to speak out” on behalf of MADD, Phillips said.

Robert Frank, a member of MADD’s executive committee, told reporters in Texas that the group wanted Lightner to relinquish her administrative responsibilities but remain as a spokeswoman.

“I think we all have strengths, and we ask people to assume responsibilities where those strengths lie,” he said. “Candy has proven herself time and time again as a spokesperson and media person.”

Phillips said: “All of us--the board, Candy and me--are all happy, extremely happy.”

Escondido Police Chief Jim Connole said he welcomed the news that the local woman had been elevated to national prominence.

“She’s deserving of it because she’s one hell of a leader,” Connole said. “She’s got enthusiasm and dedication, but she keeps to the facts and doesn’t get emotional when talking about drunk driving.”

Phillips’ husband, Harold, said he was “absolutely not surprised” by his wife’s achievement. “She is the epitome of the kind of person you would imagine heading MADD nationally,” he said.

“It’s a change for the better,” he said of the leadership change. “Candy Lightner did a good job starting it, but businesses change and it’s sometimes hard for people to adapt to it.”

The Phillips-owned companies helped fund the San Diego County MADD chapter in its first year of existence, but the local group is now self-supporting, he said.

Norma Phillips formed the local affiliate of MADD after her only son, Dean, 24, and a friend, Leticia Crosthwaite, 20, were killed when their car was struck head-on by another on a desert highway near Warner Springs. The driver of the other car was not seriously injured and was sentenced to a year in prison for vehicular manslaughter.

“When we saw how the drunk driver was treated and how we as a family were treated, we felt a tremendous sense of injustice,” Harold Phillips said. “Drunk drivers are the largest terrorist group in the world.”