SAN JUAN – The favorite to be Puerto Rico’s next governor said Tuesday he was confident of victory and was studying the make-up of his future Cabinet.

Ricky Rossello of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico said in remarks to the media after casting his ballot that he was happy and trusted that he would prevail in Tuesday’s vote.

After calling on Puerto Ricans to make their way to the polling places, he said he had not made any promises to anyone but was already weighing his Cabinet choices.

“We need to get to work and now it’s a matter of a few days to organize a transition team and the team that will be our Cabinet officials,” he said.

Referring to the federal financial control board established by Washington to oversee the restructuring of the U.S. commonwealth’s massive $72 billion debt load, Rossello said he was eager to meet with the members of that board as soon as possible.

“I’ve been able to speak with several of the members ... but I want to have the chance formally as governor-elect to present them with our fiscal plan,” he added.

Also in the running to be Puerto Rico’s next governor are David Bernier of the pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party, which is trying to hold on to power; Maria de Lourdes Santiago of the pro-independence Puerto Rican Independence Party; Rafael Bernabe of the leftist Working People’s Party; and independents Alexandra Lugaro and Manuel Cidre.

The general elections come at a time of economic crisis for the U.S. commonwealth, which has been in recession for most of the last decade.