Racine School Board Clash Escalates Over Facebook Slur Aimed At Women

School lockers. Photo by Phil Roeder (CC BY 2.0)

A Racine Unified school board member — and candidate for the state assembly — is facing a formal complaint after attacking his opponent and other women online using a derogatory and profane slur.

Kelly Gallaher, chair of the Democratic Party of Racine County, filed a complaint Wednesday with the Racine Unified School District, requesting immediate censure proceedings against Mike Bellagio.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Bellagio, acting online under the name Mike Vincent, referred to Gallaher, State Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine and local reporters Denise Lockwood and Heather Asiyanbi using a slang phrase with an acronym that spells out a profane slur for women

He called Gallaher the “ring leader” of the most vile women in the county, referring to her as a “vile lady” who “should be imprisoned for her tactics.”

“These five women are responsible for the fake local news, pushing the commie agenda and rallying the unemployed for their bogus protests with false narratives,” Bellagio wrote.

“They are whats wrong with the country. They attack and defame good people, while pushing the whack job candidates the push anti American agendas.”

He did not say who the fifth “vile woman” is.

Bellagio did not respond to multiple requests for comment from WPR.

Mike Bellagio. Photo courtesy of Racine Unified School District

Gallaher is asking the RUSD Board of Education to place a formal resolution of censure against Bellagio on the next agenda and hold a roll-call vote to officially “condemn his misogynistic and defamatory statements.”

She would also like the board to remove Bellagio from his position as board clerk and any committee assignments or district representation roles.

“The school board would not put up with behavior like this from a student,” Gallaher said in an interview with WPR. “I don’t see why they put up with it from him.”

In an email to WPR, board president Jane Barbian said she was disappointed to see Bellagio’s post on social media. But she said he wrote it as a private citizen.

“It certainly does not reflect the thoughts or opinions of the other board members,” Barbian wrote. “In no way had he indicated in his post that he is, or is acting as a board member. In my opinion, this is a matter of free speech as an individual citizen.”

Barbian continued that as an elected official, Bellagio’s constituents must determine if they find his comments inappropriate.

Bellagio was re-elected to the school board April 2025, after serving a one-year term.

He is challenging Cruz as a Republican for her Assembly seat in November.

According to state campaign finance records, Bellagio had not raised any money as of Aug. 8.

In an interview with WPR, Cruz said she is not familiar with Bellagio or what his platform is.

“I am doing the work of knocking on doors and connecting with people in the community over issues that they’re really struggling with right now,” Cruz said. “People want to know that they have a representative that is committed to strong public schools, lowering property taxes and dealing with issues related to affordability. That is what I’m focused on right now.”

This is not the first time Bellagio and Gallaher have been at odds.

In August 2025, the Democratic Party of Racine County alleged Bellagio mocked protesters, including retired teachers, during weekly party events. Gallaher said Bellagio also called protesters “pathetic,” “uneducated,” and “fools,” in a social media post.

Bellagio did not respond to requests for comment from WPR about the alleged incidents.

But in in August 2025 he wrote a two-page written response to a complaint filed by Gallaher at that time about his online response to local protests.

He blamed Gallaher for “propagating divisive rhetoric” in Racine.

“I am not a politician, just a dad compelled to advocate for the injustices and rhetoric being pushed,” he wrote. “It is regrettable that the administrator off the Racine County Democratic Party’s Facebook Page appears to be engage in practices that undermine transparency, potentially fostering unwarranted anger, fear and apprehension among their audience.”

Complaint filed against Racine school board member, state Assembly candidate following profane post against women was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.