Congressman Howard Coble will stick to party when it comes to a state House endorsement.

The Greensboro Republican said Wednesday that he plans to endorse Joe Boylan for the District 52 seat in the state House of Representatives.

Boylan defeated incumbent state Rep. Richard Morgan in the Republican primary election in May. The Demo-crats did not field a candidate.

"I have stayed out of this so far because of the unusual situation," Coble said. "This is not your boilerplate season."

That unusual situation centers on the two unaffiliated candidates.

Republican Manila G. (Bud) Shaver of Seven Lakes was the first to announce plans to secure a spot on the November ballot as an unaffiliated candidate by submitting a petition bearing more than 2,000 names of eligible voters.

Retired Southern Pines Police Chief Gerald Galloway announced similar plans shortly thereafter. Galloway is a former Democrat who switched to unaffiliated.

Both handily secured the required number of signatures on their petitions in time for the June 30 deadline.

"Ultimately I plan to endorse Mr. Boylan because he is my party's nominee," Coble said.

Coble said he plans to make an official announcement about his endorsement later this month.

The 6th District congressman, a candidate for re-election, said he knows both Galloway and Shaver and respects both men.

"I know all three candidates, and I like all three of them," Coble said, adding that he would stick to the winner of the Republican primary.

Coble plans three appearances in Moore County prior to the Nov. 7 election. The first will be a candidates' forum at Seven Lakes Tuesday night.