Sexist Kamala Harris Tweet Sparks Demand For Souderton School Official's Resignation

SOUDERTON, PA — Residents are demanding the resignation of a Souderton School Board member whose crude, sexist response to a post about Kamala Harris went viral recently.

Nearly two thousand signatures have been added to a Change.org petition to remove the appointed officeholder, Bill Formica.

The post that Formica responded to featured an image of Harris. “Name ONE THING this chick has accomplished, politically? One!" an account called "ProudArmyBrat" wrote.

Formica responded "She (expletive) a lot of dudes."

Formica, who was not elected but was appointed to replace Donna Schueren in 2023 due to his performance in the primary, has since deleted his Twitter account in the ensuing uproar.

"Bill Formica made waves for his questionable behavior prior to being installed as a school board director, but now he has gone too far," wrote Natalie Cimonetti, who started the GoFundMe. "His actions bring shame to the school district and he needs to step down."

The Souderton Area School Board's response, which some say did not condemn the behavior strongly enough, called it an example of "inappropriate language and poor judgement." They also did not say what, if any, punishment Formica would face.

"The Board has asked for some time to process this situation and that time is being afforded," Superintendent Frank T. Gallagher said. "However, we do not want a delay in communication from the District to be perceived as a lack of concern or disregard for the impact these comments have had on our community. Words matter. Respect matters. Our schools and offices must be spaces where diverse opinions are honored – but where respect is required."

The milquetoast response may have contributed to the drama that unfolded at Wednesday night's board meeting, when parents and community members demanded the board address Formica and the situation more directly. Instead, the board canceled the meeting outright on the spot without conducting any of their planned business.

"(It is) a situation brought on by their own refusal to take action," local group Souderton Area for Responsible Leadership said. "This issue cannot be ignored—our community remains steadfast in holding the board accountable, urging the remaining members to publicly call for the resignation of their fellow director."

The group added "(Formica) believes that women get ahead in this world as a result of sexual favors. Is that what we should be teaching our daughters?"

That same group says that Formica's Harris tweet is not an isolated incident, and that it's but one of a "series of offensive, sexist, and racist statements" made since he was appointed.

The group calls for the next highest vote getter during the most recent primary, Elise Bowers, to be appointed in Formica's place.

The board has not issued a statement or public response to the outcry since the meeting ended abruptly Wednesday, or since their initial message to the community.