Political dirty tricks are beginning to exact a high price.

James Tobin, 45, of Bangor was convicted Thursday for his role in a scheme to short-circuit New Hampshire Democrats’ get-out-the-vote efforts in 2002. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Tobin joins a growing list of political operatives accused of running afoul of the law. The national list is lengthy and includes the likes of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and bribed California Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham. Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson is being investigated by the FBI for his business dealings

Closer to home, two political operatives and two novice political candidates face the potential for fines and a possible criminal investigation in connections with shenanigans during Maine’s last legislative election. According to the state’s ethics commission, operatives Daniel Rogers of Auburn and Jessica Larlee of Minot breached the public trust. Part of Rogers’ trouble stemmed from the creation of a fake political action committee and a bogus flier meant to subversively undermine a political opponent.

Tobin was convicted, along with two others, of two charges related to a plan to jam Democratic Party phone banks that were encouraging people to vote. He was acquitted of a charge of conspiring to deprive New Hampshire residents of their right to vote.

Tobin has a long history of activism in Maine. He worked for former U.S. Sen. William Cohen and worked on the the election campaigns of U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. And he remains politically connected. According to The Associated Press, the Republican National Committee spent more than $700,000 on his defense, and former 2nd Congressional District candidate Kevin Raye and former Secretary of State and current state Sen. Bill Diamond showed up at the trial in Concord to lend Tobin support.

Some members of the professional political consultant trade have elevated skullduggery to high art, all in the name of serving their political masters. It appears, however, that the public tolerance for these hired guns and questionable – and illegal – tactics is finally running thin.

Much of the public already holds politicians, lobbyists and political consultants in low regard. They generally expect the worst. Regardless, the majority of the men and women involved in electoral politics are straight arrows, dedicated to public service and to improving the world. They are driven and passionate, and they shouldn’t be lumped in with those who push the envelope of legality.

Campaigns and elections have rules; making sure that those rules are followed keeps criminals from undermining the legitimacy of democracy. Too often we talk about politics like it’s a game. It’s not. The crimes Tobin has been convicted of are serious. They go well beyond what can be tolerated.