FOR most people, reaching 100 would be a reason enough to put one’s feet up and take things easy, but Lisel Heise has other ideas.

The German centenarian, a former sports teacher, has started a new chapter in her life by standing for election to the council in her hometown of Kirchheimbolanden.

She is focusing her campaign on reopening the town’s outdoor swimming pool, which closed in 2011.

Heise has been vocal in her efforts to resurrect it — she dislikes its replacement on the outskirts of town — but found that, as an older woman, her opinions were often ignored. Now that she has reached three figures, she hopes to turn age to her advantage.

The ballot is on May 26 and voters in Kirchheimbolanden (known as “Kibo”), a town of some 8,000 in the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate, are starting to listen. Heise is running as a candidate for grassroots group “Wir für Kibo” (akin in English to “Kirchheimbolanden is Us”), which campaigns for sustainable development and more civic engagement.

A grandmother and great-grandmother, Heise’s main hope in running for office is that she can “finally do something for young people.” (SD-Agencies)