This could be a fresh start for Mayor Dave Aspden and the city.

However, based on the mayor’s performance and judgment to date, this may be nothing more than wishful thinking.

For the sake of the city, we hope we are wrong, and that the mayor is more effective during the remainder of his term in handling the responsibilities of his office, which include leading the city.

While the OPP has cleared the mayor of anything illegal in connection with his trip to China last April, the ongoing criticism of the mayor is much broader than that. He has repeatedly demonstrated poor judgment, has failed to build consensus in important areas, and has been at odds with much of council since being elected in November 2006.

Serious lapses of judgment include writing a letter on behalf of a police officer who had been found guilty of discreditable conduct. He wrote the letter while chair of the city’s police board, and on city letterhead. The action led to charges under the Police Services Act, his suspension as chair and a hefty legal bill for taxpayers.

He did this despite having previously advised councillors not to offer references.

A few weeks before the China trip, the mayor, then a member of Barrie’s negotiating team in the boundary talks with Innisfil, tried to cut a side deal to have a developer’s land serviced. The developer was on the plane with Aspden to China, and that played a key role in convincing council to ask the OPP to investigate.

Recently, The Advance wrote of the mayor’s use of a city-supplied cellphone for election purposes, during the municipal election, in contravention of rules preventing such use. The rules are in place to prevent an incumbent from having an advantage over opponents.

It all adds up to a disturbing lack of judgment and absence of leadership at a time the city needs an abundance of both.

Much is at stake in ongoing growth-related talks. The province wants to know that county municipalities, including Barrie, have the ability to plan for growth. If municipal politicians aren’t up to the job, the province will force a solution that might not be to the city’s liking.

Still, there is time for Aspden to turn it around. He needs to start taking advice that has been offered before.

He needs to seek out and mobilize the significant resources in this city. He needs to build consensus – come up with a vision, articulate it and get support from key sectors and individuals.

He needs to listen. It’s a wise man that recognizes his limitations and creates an effective team to get jobs done.

He needs to reverse the well-earned reputation for going it alone.

Do this, and the mayor may yet turn things around. Do not, and it will be more of the same until the next election.