Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre added his name Wednesday to the growing list of Florida Democrats seeking the party’s Senate nomination in 2010.

The Puerto Rico-born Ferre is hoping to appeal to the Sunshine State’s large Hispanic population.

Ferre is fairly well known from his 12 years as mayor, but standing squarely in his way in the August 2010 primary will be Rep. Kendrick Meek, who is the well-funded frontrunner in the Democratic field. Meek jumped into the Senate race early in the year and, with the backing of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton , has become the establishment pick in the primary.

North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns also is in the primary, and Rep. Corrine Brown is exploring a run.

“Florida has been the promised land for five generations of my family But, a record level of unemployment, a damaged economy and a shrinking population has our paradise on the brink of disaster,” Ferre said in his announcement. “My mission as a United States Senator is to turn that around and fight for our people so that Florida begins to lead the pack.”