Tom Zarek

From Wiki Frakr

Tom Zarek is a rustic outsider who transformed a successful career in terrorism to a successful career in politics. It wasn't as difficult as any of us hoped.

Born a poor black share-cropper on isolated Sagittaron, he spent his early days feeling jilted and whiny until he finally blew some things up and was promoted to inmate. Twenty years later he was safely aboard a guarded travel vessel during the Great Toasting of the Colonies, and quickly appointed himself chief force-to-be-reckoned-with. When that isn't enough to satisfy his ambition, a few well-publicized soapbox rants and intense stares got him a seat on the prestigious Quorum of Twelve, becouse he and his men can repair the toilet aboard a ship faster than the presidental office can even pick up the phone.

His story represents an important moral and religious theme in the series: that in a world of less than 50,000 people, there are not that many steps to the top.

Zarek is also fraktarded enough to get along great with Gaius Baltar, who makes him a campaign manager, and later vice-presidential candidate. When Baltar is stupid, Zarek keeps his distance... but you know he'd go back in a heartbeat, they're made for each other. Zarek somehow stays Vice President under Laura Roslin and things are looking peachy until both Roslin and Baltar vacation together on a Cylon baseship, and Lee Adama gently breaks the news to Zarek that nobody wants him to be President. But don't give up on the Colonial Dream, you go-getter.