He wanted to become mayor of Bad Tölz three times, he offended with passion and liked to provoke.
Hajo Rehbein, tow operator and critical spirit, has now died.
Bad Tölz
- He was known in Bad Tölz as a contentious personality.
Hajo Rehbein probably not only accepted that this was not synonymous with “popular”, but rather saw it as an award.
As has now become known, the former tow operator died on May 4th at the age of 71 in Murnau.
The last of countless letters to the editor that Hajo Rehbein wrote was published in Tölzer Kurier on June 23, 2020.
Then the pensioner mocked the fact that the municipal traffic surveillance when flashing is supposedly not about traffic safety, but about "profit maximization".
Hajo Rehbein denounced what he thought was unjust
Compared to Rehbein's earlier public statements, the tone of the writing was still moderate.
He loved to provoke and to rebel against institutions and elected officials, denounced what he felt to be unjust, took legal action where he thought it was necessary, or wrote ironically to the State Chancellery to ask for a native of Frankfurt after over 40 Years of residence in the Free State to apply for Bavarian citizenship.
In personal dealings, however, he was less caustic than mischievous.
But even with his unconventional way of life and his appearance with a shaggy beard and gray long hair, he was a charming figure for many.
Some citizens found his residence and company headquarters on Lenggrieser Strasse to be an eyesore.
The city quarreled with him over the overgrown garden.
Hajo Rehbein got little tailwind when approaching the office of mayor of Tölz
Rehbein didn't seem to be put off by the fact that he was offensive with his ideas and didn't get a lot of tailwind.
The "Tölz tow tractor" made three attempts to become mayor of Tölz, for the first time in 2000, when he left the Green Party three months before the election to apply as an independent candidate.
However, he missed the requirement to collect 180 supporter signatures by far.
This was repeated in 2006 and 2008. In the state elections in 2008, Rehbein also tried to be nominated as a candidate for the state parliament of the “Left”, but the party preferred another candidate.
Mosque plans caused a stir in Saxony
Ten years ago he caused a stir with the plans for his old age.
As a retirement home, he had chosen a dilapidated farm in Saxony, which his son had acquired at a ridiculous price.
With his idea of making part of the property available for the establishment of a mosque, Rehbein met resistance from the village population.
Rehbein soon afterwards stated that he only wanted to let a “test balloon” rise, and gave up on the project.
In the end he stayed loyal to the Isarwinkel, where he had lived since his youth, and was last registered in Tölz after an interlude in Lenggries.
He was buried in the forest cemetery.
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