Even the most worthless of man,once appointed leader, should be as respected as the strongest.

One should accord respect to a public leader by virtue of his position as a leader of the community.

(“Three of the most insignificant of the world are like three of the most distinguished of the world, to teach you: Jerubaal in his generation was like Moses in his generation, Bedan in his generation was like Aaron in his generation, Jephthah in his generation was like Samuel in his generation. This is to teach you that even the most insignificant of men, once appointed as leader of the community, is as the noblest of the noble.” — Rosh Hashanah 25b)

Translation