Incumbent Commissioner, Former Firefighter File For Commission Seat

TAYLORS – Fire and Sewer District Commission chairman Doug Wavle will face at least one opponent as he seeks a second six-year term in the Nov. 8 general election.

Bryan Altier, a 55-year-old former firefighter and investigator for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, said Tuesday prior to the commission’s meeting that he has filed to run for a seat on the board.

One of the three commission seats is up for election every two years, and Wavle has also filed for re-election.

The incumbent said he’s running for re-election “because of the experience I’ve gained during the first term."

“I think there needs to be continuity,” he said. “It’s amazing what you do learn. I offered myself for public service not knowing half of what was required for this.”

Altier said this is his first bid for elected office. The Canal Insurance adjuster and lifelong Taylors-area resident said the district needs to be more transparent to the public.

“I feel like the commission needs to be more responsive to the community,” he said.

“I think the feather that broke the camel’s back – and this is no reflection (on the current commissioners) – we had a public hearing on the (current Fire and Sewer District) budget, and the citizens … were told if we wanted a copy of it we could get one through the Freedom of Information Act, and a five-line budget was projected up on the screen without any real detail,” Altier said.