PARSIPPANY — MCYD Forward, a slate of candidates running for the executive committee of the Morris County Young Democrats, announced their candidacies.
Matt Clarkin, 26, is the MCYD Forward candidate for President. Clarkin has been the Chairman of the Parsippany Democratic Committee since 2016 and Chief of Staff to Parsippany Mayor Michael Soriano since his November victory. He previously served as the full time Political Director of the Morris County Democratic Committee (MCDC) from 2015 – 2018. During his time at MCDC, the party picked up 21 seats from the GOP without losing a single Democratic-held seat. This pushed Morris Democrats from 34 to 55 elected officials.
Ore Obiwumi, 22, is the MCYD Forward candidate for Vice President. Obiwumi is the current full time Political Director of the MCDC. Beginning with MCDC as an intern, she previously served as Field Director for Michael Soriano in 2017 and Field Director for the MCDC in 2016. Obiwumi graduated summa cum laude from Farleigh Dickinson University in 2018 with a degree in political science & communications. She resides in Mount Olive.
Erin Byrnes, 23, is the MCYD Forward candidate for Secretary. Byrnes is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in political science, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in accounting. Byrnes works in the financial industry. She served as a Field Organizer for the MCDC in 2016, leading the successful GOTV effort for the Boonton Democrats the same year. She resides in Morris Plains.
Hait Leuva, 24, is the MCYD Forward candidate for Treasurer. Leuva graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in economics, and currently works for a boutique consulting firm. He is currently pursuing his CFA charter designation. He was formerly President of the Young Democrats club at Parsippany Hills High School. He resides in Parsippany.
MCYD Forward is running on a platform to increase youth involvement in Democratic campaigns throughout Morris County, and increase the dwindling membership of the Morris County Young Democrats. Young people, from high school to the working world, need bridges of opportunity to get involved in the political process. The MCYD Forward slate is a collection of young leaders and operatives in the party who rose through the ranks and want to see others do the same.
