WWW arkcity.net

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

Arkansas City native Joyce Riley, one of 12 finalists for a new Showtime reality television series, is apparently in New Hampshire, preparing to continue her quest to become "the American Candidate."

But few people know for sure.

Showtime is keeping a tight lid on information about the candidates and what their next moves are. Even Riley's family in Arkansas City is in the dark.

"Her husband hasn't heard from her," Joyce's mother, Naoma Thompson, said Thursday. "Maybe they kidnapped her."

One Web site linked to the "American Candidate" Web site states that a rally will occur at 1 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, at Railroad Square in Keene, New Hampshire.

A spokeswoman for the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce said today that "American Candidate" events had started and will run through the weekend.

"There's some sort of rally planned for tomorrow," the spokeswoman, Brenda Woods, said.

Riley left Arkansas City on Wednesday after a kick-off rally Tuesday evening attended by 200 people in the Agri-Business Building.

She spoke via cell phone from the Wichita airport to say she was headed for New Hampshire and the next phase of the competition.

"She had no idea what would be next," Thompson said. "And (the Showtime crew) wouldn't tell us anything before they left. There's lot of secrecy involved in these reality shows, I guess."

Riley's husband said he can't get information, either.

"I called the number for one of the show's producers and he would neither confirm or deny that this event would happen," Dave von Kleist said today.

Von Kleist co-hosts "The Power Hour" with Riley from their home in Versailles, Mo. Von Kleist played the guitar and sang his own "protest songs for the new millennium" at the kick-off event in Ark City before he returned to Versailles.

The Showtime network is being secretive about the upcoming show for two reasons, von Kleist said.

"If everyone knows what's going on they won't watch the show," he said. "And, secondly, if the show starts catching on throughout the country, the powers that be in Washington might have to pay attention to what candidates like Joyce are saying."

Riley, a Libertarian, is running on a platform of human rights, including no experimentation on individuals, freedom of health care choices and less intrusive government.

According to information on the show's Web site -- www.americancandidate.com -- the 12 candidates are "from all walks of life."

The Web site states that: "Over the course of 10 weeks those 12 will face-off against each other in a series of challenges designed to test their presidential mettle and to show viewers what really goes on in the making of a presidential candidate."

Week-by-week, the original pool of candidates will be winnowed down. A final episode will be a showdown between the final two candidates, and a winner will be chosen.

The winner receives $200,000 and will make a nationwide media appearance.