Municipal leaders in Lakeland are currently assessing whether a prominent local administrator should remain on the Lakeland Housing Authority’s governing board after facing severe administrative allegations at another public agency. The discussions center on Stacy Campbell-Domineck, who was recently suspended from her primary role directing the county’s workforce agency but currently retains her appointed post overseeing municipal housing policies.
During a city meeting on September 8, officials weighed the merits of either temporarily suspending Campbell-Domineck or initiating formal removal proceedings from the housing board. For the time being, she will continue to occupy her appointed seat while city leaders consult legal counsel to determine the appropriate procedural and regulatory next steps.
The municipal debate follows a series of formal complaints that surfaced in late August 2026. On August 25, Florida Commerce alongside CareerSource Florida brought forward significant allegations involving Campbell-Domineck’s administrative conduct and fiscal oversight at CareerSource Polk, citing questionable fiscal practices, potential unauthorized expenditures of taxpayer money, and instances of deliberate deception.
In response to those findings, the Polk County Commission, which holds administrative oversight over the county workforce development network, voted on September 1 to relieve Campbell-Domineck of her duties. The disciplinary action removed her without pay from her executive director post while the matters undergo deeper investigation.
Campbell-Domineck originally joined the Lakeland Housing Authority board of directors in December 2024 following an official appointment by the city's mayor. Members serving on the housing authority’s governing body typically carry out four-year terms, providing strategic leadership and oversight regarding local public housing programs and operational policies.
Advocating for immediate municipal action, City Commissioner Guy LaLonde argued that allowing Campbell-Domineck to remain on the housing board during an ongoing state inquiry poses a reputational risk to the city. LaLonde stressed that her active service while under scrutiny could undermine community trust and erode public confidence in the integrity of the housing authority’s governance.
Conversely, Commissioner Ashley Troutman urged caution, warning colleagues against taking hasty action before official inquiries reach their conclusion. Troutman emphasized that leadership should not succumb to public pressure prematurely, advocating instead for due process so that factual determinations can be established through established investigative channels.
To reinforce his position, Troutman cited a past administrative controversy at Polk State College, where he served on the Board of Trustees. In that instance, an official investigation was launched regarding former President Angela Garcia Falconetti’s allocation of scholarship funds for student fee payments; the final review ultimately determined that Falconetti had adhered to college policies and violated no state laws.
Providing legal clarity on the matter, City Attorney Palmer Davis outlined the strict statutory framework required under Florida law before any housing board member can be forcibly removed from office. Davis noted that removal mandates formal charges demonstrating ineffectiveness, neglect of duty, or direct misconduct in office, followed by an administrative due process proceeding.
Under these state statutory requirements, an accused board member must be formally notified and granted a 10-day period to answer charges and defend their record. Davis reminded commissioners that any punitive action taken against an appointed official must strictly adhere to these procedural safeguards to remain legally sound.
Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley observed that municipal records show no precedent during her tenure as commissioner or mayor for removing a sitting housing authority board member. She instructed the city attorney’s office to clarify the legal pathways available to the commission while confirming that she planned to personally reach out to Campbell-Domineck to discuss the ongoing situation.
From an ethical standpoint, Mayor Roberts McCarley suggested that an official facing simultaneous state and county reviews should voluntarily step aside from public advisory boards to protect organizational integrity. That view, favoring voluntary recusal during the pendency of state and county reviews, received vocal support from both Commissioner LaLonde and Commissioner Mike Musick.
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of wider community dissatisfaction surrounding the Lakeland Housing Authority. Over the past year, residents, community advocates, and agency employees have raised numerous complaints regarding administrative oversight, internal record keeping, questionable termination of assistance, and alleged favoritism in housing placement decisions.
Community organizers, including Michael Joseph and Harlem Turner, have repeatedly addressed city commissioners to demand greater transparency and accountability regarding the authority's operations. The ongoing public outcry prompted Commissioner LaLonde in August 2025 to formally request a complete disclosure of housing agency records and an independent third-party audit.
Lakeland Housing Authority Executive Director Ben Stevenson maintained that he had not received LaLonde's formal request but asserted that he welcomes any impartial and fair administrative review. Stevenson has consistently rejected allegations of misconduct and favoritism, though he acknowledged that several agency employees are related to him, maintaining that there are clear administrative degrees of separation and that none report directly to his supervision.
In response to persistent community unrest, Mayor Roberts McCarley previously instructed city commissioners to conduct individual, one-on-one meetings with members of the housing authority's board of directors to evaluate administrative practices and address ongoing public concerns.
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