“On January 18th, Mr. Patton appeared on a local radio show and attempted to disqualify me as a candidate due to the fact that I am the mother of 2 children when he made the following comment: 
 
 ‘The gal that’s running against me is a 30 year old, you know, mom, mother of 2 infants. And you know, I don’t know if anyone explained to her you have to spend 3 nights a week in Columbus. I would ask to be judged on my hard work and advocacy for working families. Umm, I waited until I was 48 til my kids were raised, and at least adults, before we took the opportunity to try.’ 
 
 He questioned my intelligence, insinuating I was not aware of the requirements of the State Representative Position.  COLUMBUS, Ohio--Senate Majority Leader Tom Patton, now running for the Ohio House, suggested in a radio interview that his primary opponent Jennifer Herold shouldn't be running for office because she is a young mother. Sarah Palin was on the Presidential ticket in 2008. Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor has two sons she has raised while serving in her current role, as well as during her time in the Ohio House and as State Auditor. Ohio House Representative Christina Hagan just welcomed her daughter last December and is now back serving her constituents. Ohio Sen. Tom Patton's comments about rival are 'not sexist or out of line,' Cuyahoga GOP chair says 
 
 "In a district that is composed of over 50 percent women, with many parents who successfully balance demanding jobs as well as a family, there is no place for this kind of anti-working parent mentality," she said in a statement, questioning whether Patton would have made the same statement about young fathers in the legislature. And once last thing, Tom, only one man in my life is allowed to call me “sweetie.” From now on, I respectfully ask you to refer to me as Jen, Jennifer, Ms. Herold, or your opponent.” 
 
 Ms. Herold encourages those who denounce Tom Patton’s comments to make their voices heard by signing our petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ISupportJen.
– Ohio state Sen. Tom Patton is a term-limited Republican who's now going after an Ohio House seat, and he's running against a real "sweetie." At least, that's what the 62-year-old called his chief Republican opponent in a radio interview last week, but it's a separate comment he made about Jennifer Herold that has drawn the most fire. In a Jan. 18 interview with Ed Ferenc on the America's Work Force radio show, he questioned why Herold is running while being a young mother, reports the Columbus Dispatch. "The gal that's running against me is a 30-year-old, you know, mom, mother of 2 infants," he said. "I don't know if anybody explained to her you have to spend three nights a week in Columbus. So, how does that work out for you? I waited until I was 48, 'til my kids were raised, and at least adults." Herold, who has 1-year-old and 3-year-old sons, took to Facebook with a lengthy response in which she asked whether the current legislators with children, mothers and fathers alike, are "all unfit to serve." She added: "Tom, only one man in my life is allowed to call me 'sweetie.' From now on, I respectfully ask you to refer to me as Jen, Jennifer, Ms. Herold, or your opponent." Cleveland.com reports Patton has followed up with his own statement in which he "sincerely" apologizes and says his comments were "misunderstood." He notes that "millions of women" balance work and family every day, including his own daughters: "I used a poor choice of words to express what I know first-hand—raising young children and working is tough." The two will face off in the March 15 GOP primary.