The mayor and redemption

In asking about redemption, I'm not speaking of it in the Biblical sense, but rather, of turnign a new leaf, to be a new person if you will. I read this book in college as part of a great college class that I was in. I remember the discussion of this book vividly as the story obviously deals with a man with a sordid past who has evidently moved on.

Can a person truly improve themselves and move on entirely? Or are they to be continually haunted by their past actions?

The million dollar question.:D