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Someone once said, “If you want something done, give it to someone who’s busy.”
That person might have been thinking of Francesco Lulaj, owner of the popular Killingworth restaurant La Foresta who is now also mounting a vigorous race for first selectman.
Five years ago Lulaj opened a new restaurant in Killingworth, named La Foresta, to great success. With more than 1,600 labels of wines, La Foresta has the most expansive wine list in the entire state of Connecticut and regularly earns critic’s praises from around the world.
“I was confident that it would work, and I’m glad to say I was right. It’s an honor to see customers travel from all over the state to come to my restaurant because they enjoy the food and the service,” Lulaj explains.
Lulaj and his wife Cassandra have four young boys at home ranging in age from 1 to 10 years old. Together they also own and manage La Foresta, which has more than 100 seats. That’s enough to keep anyone on their toes.
But then the local Republican Party leadership approached him in the spring and asked him to consider running for first selectman. He discussed it with Cassandra and said yes.
In late May, Lulaj filed his papers to officially declare his candidacy. He’s been knocking on doors throughout town since the 4th of July weekend. He says that as of August 20, he’s hit roughly 1,400 doors and is on track to hit every street by Labor Day Weekend.
Where does the drive and passion come from to take on this new challenge and make the time to campaign? Lulaj says he is driven to work hard by his appreciation for this country and the opportunities it offers.
Lulaj was born into the communist era of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania. In 2002 he applied for and was granted political asylum to the United States as a refugee. With $50 in his pocket he quickly settled in New York City where he initially worked entry-level jobs as a busser and server in such notable restaurants as Il Mulino in Manhattan, and Roberto’s in the Bronx.
Within a few years Francesco and several partners pooled their resources to buy an established restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut, named Adriana’s. Under their management the restaurant’s popularity and profitability grew.
In 2007 he married his wife, Cassandra, who he met in New Haven. The next year, in 2008, he became a United States citizen and in 2009 they moved to Killingworth to raise their family.
He’s been asked how would he be able to juggle the responsibilities of the restaurant with the responsibilities of running the town if he were elected. He explains that he has recently handed over much of the day-to-day operations of the restaurant to his brother, Mario, and a very capable management team.
“My brother is my right hand. He does a great job and I know the business is in good hands with Mario at the helm,” said Lulaj.
Lulaj says he would still expect to spend time at the restaurant on the weekends but no longer needs to tend to all of the administrative details during the week.
He also feels a strong calling to take on this next chapter of his life.
Lulaj added “I love Killingworth. It’s beautiful and its people have warmly embraced my family. I want my children to have the option to raise my grandchildren here. That’s why I want to do this. That’s why I want to be First Selectman.”
Jonathan Jennings
Killingworth, CT
