He worked full time for two years on the Campaign for Alcohol Free Kids and drunken driving issues from his Clearwater home, running up huge long-distance bills and endless hours on the Internet. He and his wife live mostly off the money she earns and can borrow as a medical resident, Golden says. Golden soon turned into an advocate. He joined MADD and served for a short stint as the group's volunteer executive director. Golden left MADD in 1981, complaining that the group was too focused on fundraising and that most of the money went to professional marketers.
Hard feelings persist years later.
Golden continues to claim that MADD's leadership is in the pocket of the alcohol industry and not committed to meaningful steps to stop drunken driving. MADD calls his criticism unfair and mean-spirited. Last July, Executive Director Dean Wilkerson sent a memo to all state chapters not to get involved with Golden or any of his organizations. Although MADD does push for tougher drunken driving laws and longer sentences for offenders, the group's main focus remains education, said Linda Unfried, president of the Hillsborough County chapter. Golden aims at brewers, distillers, bars and package stores, she said.