POMONA - Councilman and mayoral candidate Elliott Rothman was arrested late Tuesday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a statement from the City Manager's Office released Wednesday.

Rothman was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday at Grand Avenue and Hamilton Boulevard and booked into Pomona City Jail, the statement said.

He was released about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday after being cited and posting $5,000 bail, the statement said.

Rothman, who represents District 5, did not return a call seeking comment.

According to the release, a Pomona police officer was on patrol when he spotted a Jeep Cherokee heading east on Mission Boulevard that had the light out over the license plate.

When the officer pulled over the Cherokee - which was being driven by Rothman - he smelled the odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle, according to the statement.

The officer gave Rothman a field-sobriety test, which he failed, and then proceeded to arrest him, according to the statement.

Details of Rothman's arrest were not released until late Wednesday afternoon.

Questions to the Pomona Police Department about the incident were referred to the City Manager's Office, since it involved an unusual circumstance and to prevent any accusations that it was being handled unfairly, said Rod Butler, assistant to the city manger, on Wednesday.

"It was an elected official, and we wanted to make sure

the City Manager's Office was involved in the coordination of the information,'' Butler said.

Pomona Police Chief Joe Romero said since this incident was considered unusual, he was notified about the case, and he notified City Manager Linda Lowry.

Romero, who transported Rothman to the city jail, said the councilman did not ask for special treatment and was respectful to the arresting officer.

A blood sample was taken and will be analyzed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Last week, a series of mailers were distributed to voters in the city with information from the city's Web site about Police Chief Joe Romero.

Romero objected to the mailer saying the information suggested he was endorsing Rothman when he did not endorse him or any other political candidate.

On Wednesday, Romero said, "Certainly, the mailer and the arrest had nothing to do with each other.''

"I would hope my record stands on its own,'' he said, adding that in the course of his career he has arrested notable people.

Romero said he did not arrest Rothman, and he will have his day in court should charges be filed.

The arrest was handled the same manner the arrest of any other council member would have been, he said.

"For anyone to try to make a connection that this is political is trying to cloud the issue,'' Romero said.

Should any other council member find his or herself in a similar situation, "I guarantee you we would handle it the same way,'' he said.

Romero said it is the obligation of the Police Department "to apply the law no matter who is involved.''

Mayor Norma Torres said she learned of the arrest late Wednesday.

"It's really unfortunate that any of our elected officials would be involved in this situation," Torres said.

She was going hold back any judgment until Rothman's case goes through the courts should it merit reaching that level, Torres said.

This isn't the first time the city has had an elected official accused of driving under the influence, she said.

"It's unfortunate, but we've had some history with DUIs," Torres said. "It's unfortunate we have to go through this yet again."

Such an incident is difficult for the person involved and for the person's family, Torres said.

Last month, Rothman voted in favor of accepting a state grant to help pay for traffic checkpoints in the city, a highly controversial issue this summer.

Rothman spoke against drunken drivers at the meeting and said his father-in-law had been killed by a drunken driver.

Torres said it's sad that such an incident has taken place, but it is more so since it happened weeks before the elections when politics can come into play.

monica.rodriguez@inlandnewspapers.com (909) 483-9336