Lakeland city leaders are evaluating whether Stacy Campbell-Domineck should retain her appointed position on the Lakeland Housing Authority board following her suspension from CareerSource Polk amid serious state-level allegations. During recent deliberations, municipal officials considered whether to temporarily suspend or remove her from the committee, ultimately deciding that she will keep her seat for the time being while formal review procedures are assessed.
Campbell-Domineck was temporarily relieved of her duties without pay as executive director of CareerSource Polk on September 1 by the Polk County Commission, which oversees the regional workforce agency. The county's disciplinary decision came in response to formal findings from state authorities, prompting Lakeland commissioners to consider the implications of her continued presence on the municipal housing board.
The controversy originates from critical claims issued on August 25, 2026, by Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida regarding Campbell-Domineck's administration. State officials highlighted severe concerns regarding her fiscal oversight, identifying questionable management practices, the potential unauthorized expenditure of public resources, and documented instances of outright deception within the agency's operations.
During a Lakeland City Commission meeting on September 8, Commissioner Guy LaLonde pushed for Campbell-Domineck's immediate suspension or removal from the housing authority board. LaLonde argued that allowing her to remain active on the panel while state investigations proceed damages the city’s reputation and undermines the general public’s faith in the housing agency’s oversight.
However, other members of the city commission expressed reservations about taking immediate punitive action before official findings are finalized. Commissioner Ashley Troutman spoke out against a hasty removal, urging his colleagues to remain calm and allow the investigative process to fully unfold so that all factual evidence can be appropriately established.
To support his call for patience, Troutman referenced his previous service on the Polk State College Board of Trustees during an official inquiry into former college president Angela Garcia Falconetti. That investigation examined the use of scholarship funds for student fees and ultimately determined that Falconetti had not violated any state laws or institutional regulations, which Troutman cited as proof that investigations should run their course before conclusions are reached.
City Attorney Palmer Davis advised the commission on the legal constraints surrounding the removal of an appointed housing authority board member under Florida law. Davis explained that an official cannot simply be dismissed without formal due process, which requires specific charges alleging ineffectiveness, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office, followed by a mandatory 10-day notice allowing the individual to answer the accusations.
Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley noted that she could not recall a single instance during her tenure in municipal government where a sitting board member had been forcibly removed from office. In light of the legal requirements, the mayor directed city staff to coordinate closely with the city attorney's office to outline the appropriate procedural steps moving forward, while also planning to speak directly with Campbell-Domineck.
Despite the procedural hurdles, Mayor Roberts McCarley stated that personal integrity and public perception would lead her to voluntarily step aside if placed in a similar situation under simultaneous review by the state and county. The mayor remarked that recusal would be the appropriate course under such scrutiny, a perspective publicly supported by Commissioners Mike Musick and Guy LaLonde.
Campbell-Domineck was appointed to the Lakeland Housing Authority’s board of directors in December 2024 to serve a standard four-year mayoral term. The debate regarding her standing occurs at a time when the housing authority is already experiencing substantial public criticism regarding its broader administrative and operational practices.
The Lakeland Housing Authority has faced heightened public scrutiny for more than a year over allegations involving preferential housing placements, poor record-keeping, and inadequate administrative governance. In August 2025, Commissioner LaLonde had formally called for a third-party independent audit and the full public disclosure of the agency's internal files to address ongoing community concerns.
Grassroots community advocates, including Harlem Turner and Michael Joseph, have repeatedly addressed city commissioners to demand investigations into the housing authority and its leadership. Local residents have brought forward persistent complaints regarding the questionable cancellation of housing benefits, alleged favoritism, and a lack of organizational accountability.
Lakeland Housing Authority Executive Director Ben Stevenson has rejected allegations of misconduct within the agency, stating that while he had not received the commissioner's specific request for an audit, he does not fear an impartial inquiry. Stevenson has acknowledged that several staff members employed by the agency are related to him, though he maintained there are degrees of operational separation and none report directly to him.
In response to the sustained public dissatisfaction surrounding the agency, Mayor Roberts McCarley directed each city commissioner to hold one-on-one meetings with individual members of the Lakeland Housing Authority board. The municipal government continues to review the matter as officials balance legal due process with community calls for administrative integrity.
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