1.   And he supports affirmative action, including set-asides for minority contractors.

2.   Chigbu, a prominent local minority contractor, said no black- owned firms received an invitation.

3.   He has supported court decisions against black congressional districts, urban schoolchildren, death-row inmates, minority contractors and affirmative action.

4.   However, last year Dole reversed his longtime support of affirmative action and backed the elimination of federal rules designed to help minority contractors.

5.   Lyons then began working with minority contractors.

6.   Many minority contractors say they would get few contracts if minority goals were abandoned.

7.   San Diego, which moved earlier to implement the initiative, has seen the number of minority contractors on city jobs drop.

8.   She helps large organizations, which are eager to diversify their work forces, find minority contractors, suppliers and workers.

9.   The government conducted a study to identify states where minority contractors were still suffering discrimination.

10.   The ruling is under appeal, but minority contractors worry that any continued erosion of affirmative action could leave blacks on the outside looking in.