"As a 20-plus year resident, I think I have agood feel about what concerns the voters.Experience adds to my ability to make decisionsbased upon present and past information," shesaid.
McKay conceded that his age may be a negativefactor, but his campaign staff said his youthcould be an advantage.
"This is a college town," Thomas Blair, thecampaign manager, said of Ames, the home of IowaState University. "[Mark] can inspire the youngpeople to get involved in the Democratic Party."
But according to Burnett, McKay might not evenget his name on the ballot because, she alleged,he is not a resident of the district.
"Check the school records," she said. "Hisparents don't live in this district."
Burnett said she may challenge Mckay'spetitions in court.
But Donald McKay, Mark's father, confirmedyesterday that Mark does reside in the district.
"He rents a room on a house at 1413 SummitAvenue," said the senior McKay. "He's lived therefor about two months."
Repeated phone calls to the residence's ownerwere not returned