A motorist was arraigned today for allegedly driving at a candidate for the Winthrop Town Council as the victim stood with several children on the Winthrop Bridge last night, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JAMES LEDERMAN (D.O.B. 4/14/43) of Winthrop was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, and operating a motor vehicle to endanger, all stemming from an incident yesterday afternoon.

Assistant District Attorney Erik Bennett recommended that Lederman be held on $5,000 cash bail. Bennett further recommended that he be ordered not to drive and to stay away from the victim and his family while the case is pending. East Boston District Court Judge Roberto Ronquillo, Jr., did not set monetary bail but did order Lederman not to drive and to stay away from the victim and the victim’s Winthrop residence.

As a matter of policy, Conley’s office does not publicly identify the victims of any crime.

Winthrop Police responded to the scene at about 4:15 yesterday afternoon, finding a group of people holding campaign signs in advance of today’s municipal elections. Several of them pointed out the victim, who stated that he was standing on the sidewalk and waving to passing motorists with his four children when Lederman approached in a black sport-utility vehicle.

The victim and several witnesses told officers that Lederman swerved toward the victim intentionally, causing the victim to hit his hand on Lederman’s vehicle as it traveled closely past him. One observer told police that Lederman had been driving in the left-hand lane when he abruptly swerved into the right lane heading directly toward the victim.

Based on the witness statements, Winthrop Police began searching for Lederman and found a black Jeep in his driveway. Early today, they applied for and obtained a warrant for his arrest, and Lederman walked into court to answer on it this afternoon.

Winthrop Police also notified the Registry of Motor Vehicles of the incident, and prosecutors notified Lederman’s attorney, Sean Donahue, of an emergency license suspension at arraignment this afternoon.

Lederman will return to court on Jan. 6, 2012.