Some may vote for Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann because he's a former Steeler or because he's African American, but delegates at the Pennsylvania African-American Political Convention yesterday said issues should be the deciding factor.

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"[Lynn Swann] has a far better chance to be heard in the African-American community than the average Republican," said Randall Taylor, a member of the Pittsburgh school board. "It's critically important for him to be visible and for him to come into the community and talk about his platform and issues specific to the African-American community."

Mr. Taylor was among about 300 people who were expected to attend the nonpartisan convention, which took place at the Kingsley Center in East Liberty.

Sessions focused on developing strategies to increase voter turnout, selecting candidates, increasing business opportunities with state government and increasing the power and effectiveness of the Governor's Commission on African American Affairs.

Gov. Ed Rendell and Mr. Swann did not attend yesterday's activities. However, both spoke at the convention's kick-off gala Friday night. The majority of Pennsylvania's African-American voters are Democrats but there were a number of Mr. Swann supporters -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- who attended yesterday's workshops.

Republican Alan Perry, of Manchester, believes once voters hear where Mr. Swann stands, they will vote for him.

He said, though, that people are creatures of habit and that the habit has been to vote Democratic.

"They have to learn a new habit," Mr. Perry said. "One-party voting breeds complacency and corruption."

Mr. Perry doesn't think Mr. Swann's candidacy as an African-American candidate on the Republican ticket will cause any kind of dilemma for African-American voters at the polls.

But former NAACP president Tim Stevens said Mr. Swann "poses a fascinating voting opportunity to the African-American community and one that will most likely cause a degree of deep thought."

Mr. Stevens, head of B-PEP (the Black Political Empowerment Project), said that traditionally the Republican Party's platform has been far removed from the issues and concerns of African Americans. He said African Americans must ask which one of the candidates' policies will best serve them.

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Even if Mr. Swann is not the answer in some African Americans' minds, Mr. Stevens said, they may not want to lose out on the historic opportunity to elect Pennsylvania's first black governor.

"I'm not sure where black folks in the end will come down on this," Mr. Stevens said. "They have eight months to observe Lynn Swann with regard to his policies and positions."

State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Chester, president of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, said the dilemma Mr. Swann poses is not because of his race but his stance on issues.

For example, he said Mr. Swann is opposed to raising the minimum wage.

"So he just knocked off a whole bunch of [potential votes] right there," Mr. Kirkland said. "That's important when people are struggling to make ends meet."

He said Mr. Swann has yet to address a large African-American audience.

"Shaking hands and kissing babies is one thing," Mr. Kirkland said. "But sitting and talking to them and finding out their concerns is another thing.

"I would hope that he would reach out to me and the caucus but that has not happened yet."