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.

"The gal that's running against me is a 30-year-old, you know, mom, mother of two infants," said Patton, a 62-year-old Republican from Strongsville, in a recent

. "And I don't know if anybody explained to her we've got to spend three nights a week in Columbus. So, how does that work out for you? I waited until I was 48 and my kids were raised, and at least adults, before we took the opportunity to try."

Patton referred to Herold as a "young gal" and, while talking about his role in bringing additional school funding to his area, said, "I want to tell her, 'Hey Sweetie, I just got 27 percent of the pie in just my district, which is nine times what should have been done.'"

In a release, Herold -- who has two sons, ages 1 and 3 -- said Patton's remarks were "insulting and discriminatory," noting that politicians such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, and state Rep. Christina Hagan have all served in office while raising a family. On Wednesday, Hagan brought her one-month-old baby while testifying before a Senate committee that Patton serves on.

"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.

Herold, who is married, added: "Only one man in my life is allowed to call me 'sweetie.'"

In a statement, Patton said his comments "appear to have been misunderstood."

"As a widower who raised five daughters, it was not my intention to suggest that a young mother couldn't serve ably in the legislature," he said. "I used a poor choice of words to express what I know first-hand - raising young children and working is tough. Millions of women do just that every day, including my own daughters. I would ask to be judged on my hard work and advocacy for working families. I sincerely apologize if my words were misplaced on this matter."

The winner of the House District 7 GOP primary on March 15 will face Democrat David Thurau, a former Berea School Board member, in November.

Patton made the remarks Jan. 18 on the "America's Work Force" radio show, broadcast on WERE 1490 AM. His comments about Herold being a young mother start around the 32:00 mark. His "sweetie" remark is at 38:40.