City leaders in Lakeland are facing a difficult governance dilemma as they evaluate the future of Stacy Campbell-Domineck on the Lakeland Housing Authority's governing board. The discussions come after the prominent local official was recently placed on leave from her leadership role at CareerSource Polk following a series of serious state-level allegations regarding fiscal oversight and administrative integrity.
Despite escalating calls for her removal or temporary suspension, municipal officials determined during a recent city commission meeting that Campbell-Domineck will retain her appointed seat on the housing board for the time being. The commission is currently balancing public perception and agency integrity against the strict statutory protocols required under Florida law before an appointed official can be formally removed.
The controversy surrounding Campbell-Domineck escalated sharply following formal intervention by state oversight authorities. On August 25, 2026, Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida presented grave allegations concerning her administrative conduct and financial stewardship at CareerSource Polk. In the wake of those findings, the Polk County Commission, which holds oversight authority over the regional workforce development agency, voted on September 1 to relieve her of her duties as executive director without pay pending further review.
At the Lakeland City Commission meeting on September 8, Commissioner Guy LaLonde brought the state's findings directly into the public record. LaLonde pointed out that the official complaints from state agencies highlighted potential unauthorized expenditures of public funds, questionable fiscal management, and instances described as outright deception. He emphasized to his fellow commissioners that these characterizations originated directly from state oversight bodies rather than local speculation.
LaLonde argued forcefully that Campbell-Domineck's continued presence on the municipal housing board during an active inquiry compromises the credibility of the city. He maintained that allowing an official facing significant fiscal allegations to oversee housing policy reflects poorly on Lakeland's governance and risks eroding the community's trust in the housing authority at a critical juncture.
However, other members of the municipal commission advocated for caution, arguing that immediate punitive measures could be premature. Commissioner Ashley Troutman emerged as a prominent voice of dissent, urging his colleagues to avoid rushed judgments and allow investigative bodies to complete their inquiries before taking definitive action against the board member.
To illustrate his point, Troutman cited his prior tenure on the Board of Trustees at Polk State College, where former President Angela Garcia Falconetti faced public scrutiny and an official inquiry over the use of scholarship funds to cover student fees. That inquiry ultimately concluded that Falconetti had not violated any state laws or institutional regulations, which Troutman argued demonstrates the necessity of allowing due process to clarify the factual record.
Providing legal clarity to the debate, City Attorney Palmer Davis outlined the precise statutory thresholds required under Florida law to effectuate the removal of an appointed housing authority member. Davis explained that an official can only be removed based on formal, substantiated charges alleging specific grounds such as ineffectiveness, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office. Furthermore, any targeted individual is legally entitled to written notice and a ten-day period to formally respond and defend themselves against the allegations.
Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley observed that municipal records showed no historical precedent for the involuntary removal of an active board member during her time serving the city as both commissioner and mayor. Consequently, she instructed the city attorney's office to thoroughly outline the appropriate legal mechanisms and procedural steps required should the commission decide to pursue formal proceedings in the future.
While acknowledging the legal boundaries of the process, Mayor Roberts McCarley expressed personal reservations about Campbell-Domineck maintaining her seat under current circumstances. The mayor remarked that from the perspective of ethical standards and public transparency, an official undergoing concurrent investigations by both the Board of County Commissioners and state agencies should voluntarily recuse themselves from board service. This perspective was publicly endorsed by Commissioners Mike Musick and Guy LaLonde.
Mayor Roberts McCarley also indicated she intends to reach out directly to Campbell-Domineck to discuss the ongoing situation and address the concerns raised by the commission and the public.
Campbell-Domineck was appointed to the Lakeland Housing Authority board of directors in December 2024. Under standard city protocols, mayoral appointees to the housing board typically serve four-year terms, providing governance and strategic direction for public housing initiatives and community development programs across the municipality.
The debate over Campbell-Domineck's seat unfolds against a broader backdrop of persistent scrutiny and community unrest surrounding the Lakeland Housing Authority. Over the past year, municipal leaders have faced recurring complaints from local residents, tenants, and agency employees regarding internal administrative practices, record-keeping inconsistencies, and general governance failures within the agency.
Community advocates and local organizers, including Harlem Turner and Michael Joseph, have repeatedly addressed city commissioners to demand thorough oversight and accountability regarding the operations of the housing authority. Residents have voiced serious concerns regarding the alleged arbitrary termination of housing assistance benefits and claims of favoritism in residential placement procedures.
The housing authority's executive leadership, headed by Executive Director Ben Stevenson, has also faced scrutiny throughout the ongoing controversy. While Commissioner LaLonde previously called for an independent third-party audit and complete records disclosure on August 28, 2025, Stevenson claimed he never received that formal request while maintaining he has no fear of an impartial probe. Stevenson has denied all allegations of administrative impropriety, though he acknowledged that relatives are employed within the agency, asserting that operational degrees of separation exist and that none report directly to him.
In response to the persistent public outcry and operational questions facing the housing authority, Mayor Roberts McCarley previously directed each city commissioner to conduct individual, one-on-one meetings with members of the housing authority's board of directors. As city leadership continues to examine its legal options regarding Campbell-Domineck, the commission remains under heightened pressure to restore public confidence in the city's housing oversight.
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