A man named Ken Biberaj, who joined operations at the Russian Tea Room in 2006, is currently running for the City Council seat held currently by Gale Brewer, the Upper West Side councilwoman who has reached term limits. According to his website, Biberaj’s family moved from Albania to New York in 1968, and in addition to his serving as vice-president at the famed midtown restaurant, Biberaj is involved with numerous nonprofits. He’s already completed his fund-raising for the campaign, and counts restaurateurs Marc Murphy of Landmarc, Tracy Nieporent of Myriad Restaurant Group, and B.R. Guest’s Stephen Hanson as backers. “There has never been an Albanian elected to City Council,” Biberaj tells Crain’s. Between that, and the industry support, we’d imagine there’s going to be some pretty good food at the party should Biberaj win next fall. [Crain’s]
