I'm pretty much in agreement with you regarding politicians becoming complacent and self serving.
I try to educate myself on the topics that resonate most with me and learn about the individual positions of the person running for office. I cast my vote accordingly.
Let's talk for a minute regarding local elections.
Here is a question for you. If a local candidate during the campaign approached you and promised that if you and your family voted for them they would take money from public coffers (revenue provided by tax payers) and provide a personal service, be it rocking your driveway to whatever. A service that would be strictly your own personal expenditure, not one of the community itself nor one in which the community as a whole would receive no benefit from.