Lakeland city officials are deliberating over whether a regional workforce executive should be suspended or removed from her seat on the Lakeland Housing Authority Board of Directors following state-level misconduct allegations. Stacy Campbell-Domineck, who was recently suspended without pay from her role as head of CareerSource Polk, will retain her municipal housing seat for the immediate future as local leaders weigh their legal options.
The debate emerged during a Lakeland City Commission meeting on September 8, 2026, where officials openly discussed how Campbell-Domineck's administrative troubles might impact public trust. City commissioners expressed conflicting viewpoints on whether to take immediate disciplinary measures or allow ongoing investigations to conclude before rendering a decision.
The controversy stems from an August 25, 2026, report issued by Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida. State authorities raised significant concerns regarding Campbell-Domineck’s oversight and administrative practices at CareerSource Polk, citing questionable financial management, the possible unauthorized use of public funds, and instances of deceit.
Prompted by the state’s findings, the Polk County Commission, which maintains administrative oversight of the local workforce board, moved to temporarily strip Campbell-Domineck of her executive director responsibilities and salary on September 1. Her simultaneous appointment to the municipal housing board quickly brought the matter to the attention of Lakeland’s elected officials.
During the city commission meeting, Commissioner Guy LaLonde voiced sharp concern regarding Campbell-Domineck’s continued involvement with the housing authority. He argued that retaining her on the board amid active state scrutiny reflects poorly on Lakeland's governance and risks eroding the public's confidence in local housing oversight.
In contrast, Commissioner Ashley Troutman urged his colleagues to exercise patience and avoid premature conclusions. Drawing on his past administrative experience, Troutman emphasized that public officials often face intense scrutiny during external inquiries that may ultimately result in exoneration once all the facts are assembled.
To illustrate his point, Troutman cited a previous investigation at Polk State College while he served on its Board of Trustees. In that instance, an inquiry into former College President Angela Garcia Falconetti regarding student fee allocations and scholarship money concluded that she had committed no legal or institutional violations.
Addressing the commission on procedural constraints, City Attorney Palmer Davis explained that state law sets a strict threshold for removing an appointed board member. Under Florida statutes, formal removal necessitates documented charges establishing neglect of duty, inefficiency, or misconduct in office.
Davis noted that the statute guarantees basic due process, requiring that the accused individual receive official notification of the allegations and be granted a 10-day window to respond. Consequently, city leaders cannot unilaterally vacate the appointed seat without initiating a structured formal process.
Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley observed that she could not recall a single instance where a sitting housing board member was forcibly ousted during her tenure in municipal office. To determine the appropriate path forward, the mayor instructed the city attorney’s office to evaluate the precise statutory steps required for potential removal.
At the same time, Mayor Roberts McCarley indicated that she plans to personally contact Campbell-Domineck to discuss the circumstances. The mayor stated that if she were facing joint administrative reviews from both county and state entities, she would voluntarily step aside from public boards to uphold personal integrity and protect public perception.
Commissioners Mike Musick and Guy LaLonde voiced agreement with the mayor’s sentiment regarding voluntary recusal. Campbell-Domineck has occupied her position on the Lakeland Housing Authority’s governing board since December 2024, when she was appointed to a standard four-year term.
The discussion surrounding Campbell-Domineck arrives at an already turbulent time for the Lakeland Housing Authority, which has faced sustained community scrutiny for more than a year. Residents and agency personnel have raised recurring concerns regarding administrative governance, record management, and the fair distribution of housing placements.
Local civic advocates, including Michael Joseph and Harlem Turner, have repeatedly addressed city commissioners to demand thorough reviews of housing authority operations and leadership. Members of the public have voiced frustrations over alleged favoritism in housing assignments and instances where client assistance was abruptly discontinued without adequate oversight.
Lakeland Housing Authority Executive Director Ben Stevenson has persistently rejected allegations of impropriety within the agency. While acknowledging that some agency employees are related to him, Stevenson has stated that these relatives do not report directly to him and that sufficient organizational boundaries are maintained.
Stevenson has also publicly expressed that he does not fear an impartial inquiry into the housing authority’s operations. The ongoing friction previously led Commissioner LaLonde to request an independent audit and complete document disclosure in August 2025, while Mayor Roberts McCarley has coordinated private individual discussions between commissioners and housing board members to address community unrest.
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