POTSDAM VILLAGE TRUSTEE RUTH GARNER TOLD 99 NEWS TODAY SHE THOROUGHLY PLANS TO STAY IN OFFICE, OR AT LEAST TRY TO UNTIL SHE'S 100 OR MORE.

THE FORMER LONG-TIME MAYOR TURNED 97 ON SUNDAY. HER CURRENT TERM EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2013, AFTER SHE TURNS 98. SHE WOULD BE 102 AT THE END OF HER NEXT TERM IF SHE STAYS IN HER SEAT. ALTHOUGH GARNER DID NOT STATE HER FORMAL CAMPAIGN FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION, SHE DID SAY SHE PLANS TO RUN AGAIN AS LONG AS SHE IS IN RELATIVELY GOOD HEALTH AND SOUND MIND. SHE SAYS SHE STILL HAS THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH.  ONE THING SHE IS INTERESTED IN IS MODERNIZING THE BOARD ROOM IN THE CIVIC CENTER.

GARNER, TRUSTEES ELEANOR HOPKE AND STEVE WARR, AND CURRENT MAYOR STEVE YURGARTIS HAVE COME TO LOGGERHEADS PUBLICLY OVER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN RECENT YEARS. GARNER SAYS TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED SOCIETY IN GENERAL SO MUCH THAT IT NOW AFFECTS HOW POLITICIANS TREAT EACH OTHER; SOME FOR THE BETTER BUT MOSTLY FOR THE WORSE; FOR EXAMPLE E-MAIL MAKES COMMUNICATION LESS OPEN IN HER OPINION.

GARNER SAYS SHE IS THANKFUL FOR HER CHILDREN, PEOPLE IN VILLAGE GOVERNMENT, AND MANY FRIENDS WHO HELP HER STAY INVOLVED AS MUCH SHE CAN.

GARNER IS ONE OF THE OLDEST ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES.