Pittsburgh’s lone Republican mayoral candidate has enlisted the aid of a nationally known black conservative to stand in for him.

Josh Wander, 42, of Squirrel Hill said he can’t make the Pittsburgh Black Political Convention’s candidates forum on April 19 because, as an Orthodox Jew, he observes the Sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening. The forum runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on a Friday.

Wander said he asked friend and fellow conservative C.L. Bryant, a Baptist minister from Grand Cane, La., to act as his proxy.

“Rev. Bryant is a friend of mine whom I’ve known for a long time,” Wander said. “His message is the same as mine. He graciously agreed to come out from Louisiana in order to represent me.”

Bryant could not be reached for comment, but his website describes him as a “Democratic radical” turned “Tea Party Patriot,” who believes liberal Democratic initiatives negatively impact blacks.

Former City Councilman Sala Udin of the Hill District, who heads the black convention, said Bryant’s appearance will not be a problem.

“Whoever Wander sends we will observe,” Udin said.

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