Dear Editor,
I write to formally endorse Theo Offei for Councilor At-Large. As a lifelong resident who graduated from the high school in the 90s, I have seen Watertown dramatically change and continue to do so. The Watertown of 2025 requires leaders who reflect our community’s diversity, energy, and forward-thinking.
Anchored in understanding the power of community and importance of belonging and representation Theo brings a fresh, inclusive, and visionary approach to city governance. A father in his 30s, Theo was born in Ghana, raised in Italy and became a U.S. Citizen in 2020, making him the embodiment of change. With experience in the tech sector, venture capital, real estate development and construction management, Theo’s professional background gave him a strong grasp of budgeting and finance, housing policy, and infrastructure planning. As Vice Chair of the Resident Advisory Committee he has helped staff 24 boards and commissions, which has shaped the city in many ways. The role has provided insight into city operations and residents’ challenges.
Theo’s strengths are particularly notable. His unique perspective is globally informed and locally grounded, and offers a much-needed lens on Watertown’s challenges and reflects the evolving demographics of Watertown. The average age of residents is 38, 55 percent of all resident rent, and 50 percent of students are from immigrant families, and they have been underrepresented for decades. This perspective is the basis for Theo’s genuine curiosity, collaborative engagement style and ability to build alignment across a diverse space.
In his policy-driven platform, Theo fully articulates the broader scope of City Council responsibilities, such as land use, transportation, and community development. It outlines his bold and practical Watertown 2040 Vision, and does it with specificity and clear priorities:
- Housing Affordability and Smart, Equitable, Inclusive Growth – backed by real-world experience, it advocates for mixed-income housing, renters and small businesses to tackle Watertown’s housing and economic development challenges
- Great Schools – prioritizes investment in inclusive, tech-forward education, expanded early childhood and after-school programs, and strong public schools that support students, teachers, and families
- Climate Action – continues to push for municipal leadership on emissions and open space by advancing sustainability through smart infrastructure and environmental stewardship
- Public Safety – balances support for first responders with community trust-building and resilience.
- Communication & Accessibility – emphasizes transparency and employing a fully developed, tech-supported communications program ensuring all residents a voice in shaping community
- Engagement & Outreach: leverages connection across neighborhoods and generations that bridge gaps, and brings underrepresented residents into city leadership to build a Watertown that works for every resident
During the forums, I was glad to hear Theo’s call for streamlining development processes to preserve Watertown’s socio-economic diversity. I appreciated his ability to focus on crucial details, and parse risk from reward. He asked the right questions in the middle school discussion, demonstrating the desire for responsible investment and financial decisions that are data-driven and not detrimental to Watertown. He was not afraid to critically look at policies that added to the cost of home ownership, in terms of money and time, and discouraged businesses from entering Watertown, citing examples in other municipalities.
The maintaining of existing structures and processes does not grapple with transformation but ignores it. A nimble, policy based, data-driven approach is better suited to address emergent events. Prioritizing current community needs and outreach leads to forward-looking, innovative ideas and attuned leadership. Oversight and previous government experience is important, but it’s only one aspect that councilors need for the entire scope of city governance—from land use and transportation to education and community development.
This is why Theo is a very compelling choice. His commitment to a Watertown future that reflects the voices and values of all its residents makes him a stronger fit for the Watertown of 2025. I urge you to vote for Theo Offei, a leader who will champion equity, transparency, judicious decision-making, data-driven analysis, and movement forward for our city. Watertown deserves a councilors who represents every resident because Watertown’s future should be built by all of us.
Rita Colafella
Watertown Resident
(Note, this does not represent the view of any group to which I belong.)
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