The World, to its credit, reported yesterday on the very distasteful case of SCDC (South Coast Development Council) chairman and towboat company owner John Knutson whose testimony before the legislature helped put a competitor out of business.
John Knutson re-entered the towboat business in Coos Bay this year. In February, he testified before the Legislature in favor of a new law that puts his competitor, Coos Bay Towboat Company, out of business come Jan. 1. That same month, Knutson and five other prominent local business people formed a political action committee, which later donated to local candidates and Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, who had introduced the towboat bill.
The paper reported in an earlier edition that allegations brought before the legislature by Knutson were found to be untrue after a federal investigation exonerated Captain Charles Yates, owner of Coos Bay Towboat Company too late to save his business and his employees from the unemployment line. Knutson was named the board chairman of the local economic development agency earlier this year replacing Jon Barton. Both Barton and Knutson are founding members of the political action committee, CCAP, that rewarded Starr with a $5,000 campaign contribution this summer.
The character and caliber of the SCDC leadership is defined with emphasis by this sordid event.
