"I think he is reaching out more to his fellow commissioners," said James L. Francis, who last week retired as Clerk of the Commission.
Practically every chance he gets, it seems that Turner publicly praises the commissioners and City Manager Valerie Lemmie.
"I think he has a greater confidence in the skills and capabilities of the city commission and the staff," said Commissioner Idotha Bootsie Neal.
Turner and Neal, once adversaries, now appear to be congenial colleagues.
She and others say Turner seems to be more inclusive and willing to listen. Montgomery County Commissioner Vicki Pegg said, "I think he is recognizing that a consensus has to be built for anything to move forward."
A small illustration of his new approach is how Turner delivers his State of the City addresses. In 1995, Turner first delivered the speech to a private group at the Dayton Racquet Club. This year, he gave the address at the Convention Center with commissioners by his side.
Only a few years ago Turner publicly bickered with fellow commissioners, had difficulty securing two votes on controversial issues and made no bones about wanting certain long-time city bureaucrats gone.
Now listen to him: "We have a new team. The top 12 positions in City Hall have all changed and we have a new city commission. ... We have five individuals now (on the commission) who are working for the best interests of the city."
One of the biggest changes is the absence of commission veteran Tony Capizzi, who challenged Turner for the mayor's seat last year. Turner beat Capizzi 19,755 to 17,138, in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 3 to 1. The new commission lacks a political rivalry where two members obviously want to be mayor.
Michael Berning, who managed Turner's campaign, said the change is an important one when it comes to commission dynamics.
"Now that you got Tony gone, who was constantly running for mayor, you've got that distraction gone," Berning said.
Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman Dennis Lieberman said it's too early to tell if Turner will stick to the new approach. "I do believe he's trying to work differently, but we haven't had any burning issues to see if he's trying to build coalitions," Lieberman said.
In addition to new commissioners Lloyd E. Lewis Jr. and Mary Wiseman, Turner is also working with new staff at City Hall.
"In the previous administration, you had a number of key players who were more political than professional and we don't have that any more," Turner said. More than a dozen high ranking bureaucrats left during Turner's first term, including two city managers, two fire chiefs and a police chief.
Turner admits this all makes for a more enjoyable second term.
"The conflict has passed," he said. "It makes it a lot easier because you can focus on policies and projects rather than personalities and politics."
In his second term, Turner plans to work for:
* A comprehensive review of the City Charter, with an eye toward making it easier to get women and minority group members hired in the police and fire departments
* A long-term financial plan for the city
* More police officers on the street
* Using a newly created development fund for neighborhood and economic development projects
* More cooperation with other elected officials, beginning with city-county economic summit in late March.
"Right now my focus is on the city and making certain the new city commission can reach its best potential. We have some tremendous opportunities for economic development and those are going to be my focus," Turner said.
He said he hopes to leave a legacy of shifting Dayton's focus to neighborhoods and financial stability.
Politicos expect Turner to run for higher office someday - maybe state senate or even U.S. Congress. Turner has proven himself as more than just a neophyte who managed to upset a politically wounded Richard Clay Dixon for mayor in 1993. In his campaign against Capizzi, he showed he can raise money and garner votes.
But Turner said he intends to serve his four-year term and shies away from talking about higher office.
"I really haven't decided what the next office would be that I would look at. I, of course, have not ruled out running for a third term," he said.