In a tense meeting Tuesday, Oct. 6, Polk County commissioners voted 3-2 to permanently remove Stacy Campbell-Domineck as president and CEO of CareerSource Polk, the county’s workforce development agency. Minutes later, the commission unanimously removed the agency’s entire board of directors.
Campbell-Domineck, whose voice had largely been absent during a months-long controversy, testified before the vote and rejected the state’s contention that she had effectively abdicated her responsibilities.
“I have not abandoned my role,” she said. She also denied neglecting her duties or being uncooperative with FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Florida.
Her attorney, Linnes Finney Jr., argued the county was turning disputed compliance and documentation issues into grounds for permanent removal.
“Neglect, mismanagement, and lack of performance are conclusions,” he said. “They are not facts.”
On Campbell-Domineck’s ouster, commissioners Becky Troutman, Rick Wilson, and Michael Scott voted in favor. Bill Braswell and Chair Martha Santiago opposed.
Why it matters in Lakeland
CareerSource Polk provides job-search help, career training, tuition assistance, youth and veteran services, and recruiting and training support for employers.
The agency says its programs are supported by about $11.7 million in federal awards from the U.S. departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and other agencies.
Lakeland is home to CareerSource Polk’s only full-service career center. The Winter Haven center closed permanently in June 2025, while Haines City offers more limited satellite services.
Scott focused on that service gap Tuesday. He questioned why available resources were not used to maintain or replace a full-service Winter Haven center, saying residents should not have to come “directly to Lakeland only.”
CareerSource Polk was already under a two-year performance improvement plan after failing to meet several federal accountability measures during the 2023 and 2024 program years.
What sparked the case
The controversy escalated with an Aug. 25 letter from FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Florida. State officials accused Campbell-Domineck of poor leadership, noncooperation, questionable fiscal management, and “in some cases outright deception.”
The letter cited four broad areas of concern. State officials said CareerSource changed procedures and trained employees before receiving required approval.
They also said three commercial driver’s license (CDL) training providers lost local agreements without proper notice or appeal rights.
Other concerns involved office closures outside the board-approved schedule and the “Men of the Workforce” campaign, which continued after state officials objected.
Campbell-Domineck disputed several of those characterizations. Asked about the CDL providers, she testified, “We didn’t really remove them. The agreements expired June 30.”
An external review
Polk County hired Canopy Management Consulting Group to review the allegations. Canopy’s Sept. 14 report found two allegations supported and two partially supported, but it did not recommend whether Campbell-Domineck should remain CEO.
The county’s removal resolution said the findings supported removal for cause, including neglect of duty, gross mismanagement, waste, and lack of performance.
Becky Troutman said years of declining performance were central to her decision.
“Do I believe there’s cause? I do believe there’s cause,” she said, arguing that Polk residents deserved better from an agency responsible for workforce development.
Santiago said the information remained “very convoluted” and she was not ready to support permanent removal. Braswell said CareerSource needed a reset but questioned whether the record supported removal for cause.
A broader reset
After the meeting vote on Campbell-Domineck, commissioners unanimously removed all current CareerSource Polk board members. Members may ask to be reinstated by Oct. 19, with commissioners considering those requests later.
Commissioners then voted 4-1 to remove Scott as the county’s CareerSource liaison, with Scott casting the lone no vote. Becky Troutman was selected as the new liaison until assignments are revisited in November.
The shake-up may also reverberate in Lakeland, where Campbell-Domineck serves on the Lakeland Housing Authority (LHA) board. Her seat at LHA is a separate city appointment governed by a different removal process.
In a statement to LkldNow, Lakeland Commissioner Guy LaLonde Jr. said Tuesday’s decision “strengthens my concern about her continued service on the (LHA) Board” and said she should resign.
LkldNow sought comment from Campbell-Domineck through her attorney but received no response by publication time.
latest news
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
