CareerSource Polk CEO Faces Permanent Removal As Polk Commissioners Find Cause
Polk County commissioners voted 3-2 Monday to find cause to permanently remove CareerSource Polk President and Chief Executive Officer Stacy Campbell-Domineck, giving her 10 days to respond in writing, and setting an Oct. 6 date for the board to take up removal. Chair Martha Santiago and Vice Chair W.C. Braswell voted no.
Amber Smith, communications division director for the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, confirmed that commissioners will not take a final vote to permanently remove Campbell-Domineck until Oct. 6, after she has been given “due process to respond” to the county. Smith confirmed with The Citrus Tea News that Campbell-Domineck has until Sept. 28 to respond.
Commissioners also voted without opposition to send the county’s written response to a state notice of material noncompliance, and separately voted unanimously to remove Campbell-Domineck from the Polk County Citizens Healthcare Oversight Committee while she remains under temporary removal. That seat will require a new appointment rather than passing to CareerSource Polk’s interim director.
Why Polk County Commissioners Found Cause
The cause finding rests on neglect of duty and poor performance, two grounds listed in Florida law. Outside counsel advised commissioners that CareerSource Polk was placed on a performance improvement plan after two program years in which performance fell short of expectations. Commissioner Rick Wilson, the county’s chief local elected official for workforce purposes, echoed that account and supported the motion.
Commissioner Michael Scott, who brought the motion and serves as the commission’s liaison to the CareerSource Polk board, said he had been tracking the region’s standing on a state performance dashboard and that Polk was in last place and not gaining ground. He said the state’s letter confirmed what he was already seeing, and that in his view action could not come quickly enough. He added that if Campbell-Domineck offers defensible reasons within the response window, that would carry weight.
Was The CareerSource Polk CEO Fired?
No. The vote found cause and started a clock. Campbell-Domineck remains under the temporary removal commissioners imposed Sept. 1, which bars her from CareerSource Polk offices, computers, files, and email, and from acting or communicating as executive director. Permanent removal requires a second vote.
Her contract also runs to the CareerSource Polk board rather than to Polk County, an arrangement Braswell called a convoluted mess when commissioners first took the matter up. The county appoints every member of that board and may remove the executive for cause under state law, but it is not her employer.
Polk County Commissioners Divided on Cause
Braswell declined to back the cause finding. He said he understands the seriousness of the matter but believes the county is moving too fast, roughly two to three weeks into a process that has barely begun. The county’s governance consultant, Canopy, is still working and is retained through December for close to $200,000. An interim director is already in place, and the organization continues to operate. Braswell said he would be more comfortable understanding the findings before acting on them. He supported removing the healthcare committee seat, saying she cannot serve in that role while suspended.
Santiago, who was absent from the Sept. 1 meeting where commissioners first suspended Campbell-Domineck, said she agreed with Braswell’s concerns and also felt rushed. She said she first learned of the matter about three weeks ago.
What The State Warned Polk County In January
That timeline matters. The state notified CareerSource Polk on Jan. 13 that the board had failed federal performance measures in program years 2023 and 2024, with dislocated worker employment and youth credential attainment falling below negotiated levels in both years. That letter went to the agency’s board chair and was copied to two commissioners, Wilson and Scott. The full county commission was not addressed until the state escalated on Aug. 25 with a notice alleging noncooperation, questionable fiscal management and, in some cases, outright deception.
Polk County appoints every member of the CareerSource Polk board. The agency operates on roughly $11.7 million in federal awards.
Under federal law, a governor may decertify a local workforce board when a local area misses its performance measures for two consecutive program years, and must require a reorganization plan, including the appointment of a new local board, after a third consecutive year on the same indicator. Program year 2025 closed June 30.
What Happens Next For CareerSource Polk
Campbell-Domineck has led CareerSource Polk since 2006. County Attorney Randy Mink told commissioners on Sept. 1 that her contract includes 52 weeks of severance for termination without cause, that her salary is roughly $220,000, and that he expects litigation. Smith said the county had not received any legal action as of Thursday.
The Citrus Tea News sought comment from Campbell-Domineck and from CareerSource Polk Board Chair Scott Dimmick and had not received a response as of publication. CareerSource Florida Communications Director Kristin Gehrke said last week that local governance and leadership decisions are made at the local level and that the matter is being addressed through the local governance process.
Commissioners meet again Oct. 6.
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FAQs
Was the CareerSource Polk CEO fired?
No. Amber Smith, communications division director for Polk County, confirmed commissioners will not take a final vote to permanently remove Stacy Campbell-Domineck until Oct. 6, after she has been given due process to respond to the county. She remains under temporary removal until then.
What did Polk County commissioners decide about CareerSource Polk?
Commissioners voted 3-2 to find cause to permanently remove Campbell-Domineck. She has 10 days to respond in writing, and the board takes up permanent removal Oct. 6.
Why is the CareerSource Polk CEO facing removal?
The cause for removal rests on neglect of duty and lack of performance, both grounds listed in Florida law. CareerSource Polk failed federal performance measures in program years 2023 and 2024 and was placed on a performance improvement plan.
Which Polk County commissioners voted against the removal?
Chair Martha Santiago and Vice Chair W.C. Braswell voted no. Braswell said the county is moving too fast while its governance consultant is still working. A separate vote removing Campbell-Domineck from a county advisory committee was unanimous.
Has the CareerSource Polk CEO filed a lawsuit against Polk County?
No. County Attorney Randy Mink told commissioners he expects litigation, and communications division director Amber Smith said the county had not received any legal action as of Thursday. Campbell-Domineck’s contract carries 52 weeks of severance on a termination without cause.
Sources: Polk County Board of County Commissioners, meeting of Sept. 15, 2026; “Formal Notice of Material Noncompliance, Required Governance Action, and Potential Removal for Cause,” Florida Department of Commerce and CareerSource Florida, Aug. 25, 2026; “Mandatory PIP Participation Letter,” CareerSource Florida and Florida Department of Commerce, Jan. 13, 2026; Polk County Board of County Commissioners, resolutions adopted Sept. 1, 2026; Amber Smith, Communications Division Director, Polk County Board of County Commissioners, statement to The Citrus Tea News, Sept. 15, 2026; Florida Statutes s. 445.002 and s. 445.007; Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Pub. L. No. 113-128, secs. 106 and 116; 20 C.F.R. 677.220; CareerSource Polk Board of Directors and Executive Committee minutes, Nov. 13, 2025, Feb. 19, 2026 and May 21, 2026; CareerSource Florida, statement to The Citrus Tea News, September 2026
