Candidate pops question during debate

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The first televised debate between Providence's five mayoral candidates ended on a romantic but somewhat strange note.

Perennial candidate Christopher Young , a Democrat, managed to steal the show during his closing statement, when he proposed marriage to Kara Russo , his campaign manager and longtime companion.

• Blog: More on Young's proposal

Russo, who is also running for Rhode Island Attorney General, said yes, and they were congratulated by the other candidates and the debate's hosts.

• Video: See Young serenade news anchor

Moments later, though, Young clarified that they would only get married if he won the election. And newspaper reports show he had already been referring to Russo as his fiancée for more than a month.

Eyewitness News political analyst Joe Fleming said Young, who is known in the Rhode Island political science for his fiery outbursts, was more controlled than usual during Tuesday's debate even as he sought to get a rise out of his opponents.

"Chris Young was Chris Young, and he basically went out there and did his thing," Fleming said.