The call to remove Stacy Campbell-Domineck—President and CEO of CareerSource Polk—from the Lakeland Housing Authority (LHA) board stems from local community activist pressure, concerns over agency oversight, and potential conflicts of interest.
Key Drivers Behind the Ouster Request
- Public & Commission Pushback: Community activist Harlem Turner formally requested that the Lakeland City Commission remove Campbell-Domineck alongside three other LHA board members (Chairman David Samples, Vice Chairman Annie Gibson, and Charles Welch). The request follows months of public frustration and allegations regarding nepotism, discrimination, and a lack of transparency within LHA management under Executive Director Ben Stevenson.
- Potential Conflict of Interest: City officials, including Commissioner Guy LaLonde, raised concerns regarding her dual roles. As the head of CareerSource Polk, her agency collaborates with the Lakeland Housing Authority on workforce initiatives like YouthBuild. Questions have been raised about whether this relationship limits independent board oversight of LHA’s operations.
- Board Oversight Concerns: Critics argue that board leadership has been overly deferential to the housing authority’s executive director rather than holding management accountable.
Regulatory & Legal Framework
Removing members from the housing authority board is legally complex
- Legal Standards: LHA board members do not serve purely at the pleasure of the commission; removal typically requires demonstrating specific cause under applicable statutory guidelines. LkldNow
- City Authority Review: Lakeland’s mayor and city attorney noted that any removal process must be carefully evaluated to avoid unintended legal conflicts or issues with federal housing guidelines.
Broader Context: CareerSource Polk Audit
Separately from her volunteer role on the city housing board, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners voted to temporarily remove Campbell-Domineck from her executive post at CareerSource Polk pending an independent governance review. That action followed a state-level inquiry by FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Florida into alleged fiscal mismanagement and non-compliance.
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