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Photo by Foss Farrar click image to enlarge

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

Arkansas City native Joyce Riley, one of 12 people nationwide running for "American Candidate," a Showtime Channel reality show, will hold her kick-off campaign rally beginning at 6 p.m. today at the Agri-Business Building, 712 W. Washington Ave.

Free hamburgers provided by Creekstone Farms will be served to people who arrive between 6 and 7 p.m. Riley's kick-off talk, followed by a "town hall" meeting begins at 7.

Riley's husband, Dave von Kleist, a singer-songwriter-guitarist, will perform.

Riley today stressed the need for a large turnout of Ark Citians at tonight's event. It could mean the difference between whether or not she is allowed to continue in the competition.

"We need a big crowd because the candidates with the big crowds get to go on and continue in this race," Riley said. "And I definitely want my voice to be heard throughout the country. But if my own hometown doesn't even turn out, would you want to vote for me?"

The 12 candidates - picked from about 1200 applicants - are given contest rules as they go, Riley said. For instance, she only learned that she was a candidate a week and a half ago. She couldn't make a public statement about her campaign until late Monday morning, when she called The Traveler.

"I don't even know what time I'm supposed to get up in the morning," she said.

Riley is the daughter of Dave and Naoma Thompson, and a 1966 graduate of Arkansas City High School. She now hosts a radio talk show on the Genesis Network called "The Power Hour." The show is broadcast from Versailles, Mo., although Genesis is based in Minneapolis, Minn.

She said she chose Arkansas City as her campaign kick-off spot because she wants to hear from her hometown on the issues that affect them.

"American Candidate" contestants can't use the "P" word, for President.

"FEC (Federal Election Commission) rules don't allow that," she said.

"The purpose is to air what the American people want," Riley said. "I'm going to find out at the campaign kick-off tonight what (Arkansas Citians) want. I'm going to ask them."

The campaign is "a whole lot different from Kerry and Bush," she said. "It's totally non-partisan. We don't want campaign finance to be an issue. Who cares about that if people are out of a job."

One of her key issues will be to support Creekstone in its fight to get the United States Department of Agriculture to allow them to test the cattle it slaughters for mad cow disease.

"I'm appalled at what the USDA has done to Creekstone," Riley said.

Riley also asks that people log on to the show's website --www.americancandidate.com -- and to register and vote for her as a candidate.

Making of a candidate

The show debuts this summer with 12 contestants from all walks of life, Showtime's website states.

Over the course of 12 weeks, the contestants will compete in challenges "designed to test their presidential mettle," Showtime explains.

The final episode will be a showdown between the remaining two candidates. The victor becomes "the American Candidate."

Above: Dan Krisher (left), discusses campaign strategy with Joyce Riley, one of 12 people running for "American Candidate," as Vanessa Holtgrew films for Showtime. The kick-off will be today at 6 p.m. at the Agri-Business building.