Former National Endowment for the Arts chairman John Frohnmayer said he will announce his political plans Wednesday, and many expect he'll enter the U.S. Senate race as an independent.

Frohnmayer scheduled press events in Salem and Portland, followed by Eugene and Springfield on Thursday and Medford and Ashland on Friday.

Frohnmayer is an attorney and brother of University of Oregon President and former Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer.

He rose to national prominence when overseeing arts funding during the first George Bush administration.

Oregon's Senate race looms as one of the most competitive in the country in 2008.

Republican Gordon Smith is seeking re-election, and Democrats Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley are actively campaigning for their party's nod.

Though independents rarely win in Oregon, Frohnmayer could have a major influence by drawing votes from Democrats, Republicans and independents.

Copyright 2007 Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon