Three Democrats, including a former political opponent of Pam Roach, have taken the unusual step of issuing a press release announcing their support for the incumbent senator from the 31st District.

The decision by Chris Hurst, Yvonne Ward and Karen Willard comes in the wake of revelations of allegations about the past of Roach’s challenger, Sumner City Councilman Matt Richardson.

“In a highly ironic turn of events, we are asking voters to elect Senator Pam Roach,” the press release reads.

According to the release, the decision was “both painful and necessary” due to the allegations in Richardson’s past, which they feel make him an “unacceptable risk.”

The press release goes on to cite documentation relating to the “criminal behavior.”

Attorneys for The Courier-Herald have advised that the press release not be printed because it is potentially libelous.

Richardson maintains he does not have a criminal record because all charges relating to the incidents described in the press release have been sealed, vacated and expunged from his record. He has also passed multiple background checks at the state and federal level to gain clearances for jobs he has held.

Hurst is currently running for re-election as an Independent Democrat for the 31st Legislative District in the state House of Representatives. Ward, a lawyer from Auburn, ran against Roach in 2002 and 2006. Willard unsuccessfully ran against Dan Roach, Pam Roach’s son, for a seat in the House of Representatives.