After a hard-fought campaign, it’s important we tip our cap to Gov. Paul LePage for winning re-election to the top political office in our state.

Clearly, voters in Maine find his salty salt-of-the-earth personality more likable than that of his opponents — blue collar, soft spoken Congressman Mike Michaud and the smarter-than-everyone lawyer, Eliot Cutler. While questions remain about decisions that have been made — or not made — in his first term, it’s time to put that behind us and look to the future.

Instead of lamenting the drubbing the Democrats took last Tuesday, or trumpeting that the outcome of Election Day is the result of the populace clamoring for Republican leadership, let’s look at how we can actually improve things going forward.

The first step is to find a way to rebuild not just the trust our government officials have in each other and the general public, but — more importantly — the trust the general public has in our government officials. If a ballot question had asked voters to weigh in on whether they trusted the government, the No votes would win in an overwhelming majority.

And it’s not on the people to forgive our elected officials. It’s up to them to seek our forgiveness.

That means, Democrats, stop whining about the Election Day result, stop complaining that Cutler cost Michaud the election, stop lamenting that now our country is going to turn back 200 years under the Republican leadership.

That means, Republicans, stop crowing about how the people have given your party a mandate through their votes, stop talking about how now you can change all the awful things the evil Democrats have been pushing on the people.

The reality is that neither side of the aisle has been doing a very good job as they’ve waged war on one another and ideas put forth. The reality is that the people, no matter whether they’re conservative or liberal, Green or libertarian, are tired of your act, but these are the only options we’re presented with at the polls. The public really just wants you to work together.

The party one belongs to shouldn’t matter — aren’t we interested in helping everyone find better opportunity? For those who aren’t interested in helping everyone find themselves in better situations, you should re-evaluate what contributions you are making in today’s society. Whether you agree with their philosophies, when people are able to improve their lot in life, the ripple effect is felt in their communities.

Politics should not be a game. Decisions made by politicians affect them primarily in how re-electable they are based on their choices. But, their decisions affect the general public profoundly. Leaving us hanging as they wage their petty ideological wars should not be an option. We need to speak up and make our voices heard. Tell our elected officials it’s not OK when politics gets in the way of them working on solutions to create an economy that works for everyone, infrastructure that is taken care of, thoughtful ways to help our children learn effectively and opportunities for people to help themselves.

So, Gov. LePage — as OUR governor — you can still be as blunt as ever, but realize that you are not right about everything and the Democrats are not wrong about everything. Be the bigger man, find a way to build some bridges that allow for dialogue and at least promise to listen with an open mind to other ideas. Whether you think they are the right way or not is irrelevant, you just need to sincerely consider other ideas besides your own — that’s what a real leader does.

You’ve been given a golden opportunity — show us you are the leader Maine needs by having respect for others who want to see this state flourish as much as you do.