This month and next month, elected officials in Beaufort County and across the country will take the oath of office, officially beginning their terms of service to the people who put them in office. That being said, now is the perfect time to reflect on what public service means.

To those taking office — remember the people who put you there. In every decision you make, strive to keep the needs of the public at the forefront of everything you do. Remind yourself that you are put in office not for your own glorification, but to serve the community. Spend the taxpayers’ dollars wisely, and remember they are not your own.

To the electorate — always remember that in the United States of America, true power only comes about through the consent of the governed. The ones you elect, from Congress down to your local municipal council, are meant to work for you. Hold them accountable for their actions, both in your deeds and at the ballot box. The only way to take ownership of your government is to show up and participate in the process.

In Roman history, a man named Cincinnatus is remembered as a paragon of civic virtue. When foreign invaders threatened his homeland, Cincinnatus left his farm and family, assuming complete leadership over the Roman republic as dictator. Upon securing a swift victory, Cincinnatus immediately relinquished that power, returning to his farm to work the land.

Our nation’s first president, George Washington, has been favorably compared to Cincinnatus in his willingness to relinquish control of the Continental Army after the Revolution was won, as well as his voluntary retirement after two terms as president. Returning to his farm at Mount Vernon, one of Washington’s monikers became the “modern Cincinnatus.”

So how do these two tales of past leaders bear upon the character of the modern statesman?

In this day, far too many elected to office seek to retain their power for the wrong reasons — money, influence, personal advancement. Deep war chests and obscene spending during elections allows this cycle to continue. Donations, political action committees and lax campaign finance regulations allow politicians to be bought and traded like stocks on the exchange.

The ideal public servant is someone who is just that — a servant to the people. These are people who are willing to sacrifice of their time and energy for the greater good of our society. They are the ones who are willing to go into the halls of power, do the job that needs to be done and return to civilian life.

In today’s world of money and politics, we could use more men and women like Cincinnatus.