Qualtere carries conservative torch on campus

With his unanimous election in February as chairman of the Saratoga County Young Republicans, Tom Qualtere '08 affirmed his status as rising star in area conservative politics.

Some might be surprised to learn that Qualtere has been earning his political stripes at Skidmore where, as at many college and universities, there are far more self-identified Democrats than Republicans. In fact, he admits, "a pretty sizeable majority of my friends are liberal Democrats."

Yet it is here on campus that he has emerged as a leader among a small but growing cadre of conservative students eager to have their voices heard and views understood.

An Albany Academy graduate, Qualtere was raised Catholic and GOP. "My entire family, on both sides, is very Republican," he says. He describes himself as "a pretty well-rounded conservative" with a few moderate views. He joined the Skidmore Young Republican Assembly (SYRA) as a freshman, was soon elected secretary, and most recently served as co-president. The group actively promotes conservative ideas on campus and brings in major speakers for its annual Conservative Challenge Week.

Qualtere has also served as Saratoga Springs Republican committeeman for Election District 24—the Skidmore campus—which voted Democratic by an 8–1 ratio in the hotly contested 2005 elections, when Democrats swept all city leadership positions. Not surprisingly, a prominent item on his to-do list as leader of the Saratoga County Young Republican Club is "to re-take Saratoga Springs."

Well before enrolling at Skidmore, says Qualtere, "I knew I definitely wanted to be in the public light," though he wasn't sure whether he'd be taking the stage as a politician or an actor. So he has pursued both loves at the College, crafting a double major in government and theater. He's been active in the Theater Department "from day one," performing in several student workshop productions, and will take to the main stage in "Blood Relative" in April.

A good stage presence certainly won't hurt if does pursue a career in politics. Asked about his aspirations, Qualtere replies that "I'd be lying to you if I said that running for public office has never entered my head." He loves debate and is optimistic about a return to more moderate political discourse in America. "I think most people on both sides of the fence are quite sick of the extreme partisanship that's gone on in Washington over the last few years," he says. "I think most of the heated differences these days are found inside Congress, and less so among the American public."

Whether he will play a role in political fence-mending on a state or national level is yet to be seen. For now, there is work to be done in the county trenches, developing the next generation of local GOP leaders. After that, he is considering several internships in Washington.

And after that? Time will tell. But odds are Tom Qualtere will be in the spotlight one way or another, as he plans "to keep my headshot and acting resume floating around."