OPINION: Letter to the Editor: Polk Commissioners Delivered Accountability. Now It’s Our Turn
To the Editor:
CareerSource Polk has one job: connecting Polk job seekers with the employers who need them. It runs on public dollars, and those dollars belong to Polk taxpayers.
When the state raised serious concerns about the agency, our Board of County Commissioners didn’t look away. On Oct. 6, after a state notice, an independent review and a public hearing, commissioners removed the CEO for cause and voted unanimously to replace the entire board.
That took courage. It’s easier to let a troubled agency drift than to make a hard call in public. Our commissioners did the work, followed due process and put taxpayers and job seekers first. They deserve our thanks.
This is what conservative leadership looks like. Government should be limited, but whatever it does, it should do well. A workforce agency exists for the welder seeking a better shift, the parent going back to school and the small business owner who can’t fill openings. It doesn’t exist for itself. I’m grateful the agency stayed open through the change, and I’m confident a new board will put employers and real job placement first.
Accountability doesn’t stop at the Commission, though. The final check is the voter.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting in Polk runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at any of 10 sites. Mail ballot requests are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 22, and requests made before November 2024 have expired, so ask again. Mail ballots must reach the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Make a plan, then vote.
Sam Romain
Chairman, Polk County Republican Party
Lakeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is early voting in Polk County for the November 2026 general election? Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, at 10 early voting sites across Polk County. Any registered Polk voter may use any of the 10 sites.
What is the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot in Polk County? Requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. A voted mail ballot must be received by the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Mail ballots that arrive after that deadline are not counted, regardless of postmark.
Do I need to submit a new vote-by-mail request for the 2026 election? Probably. Under Florida’s rule, a request covers all elections from the date it was submitted through the end of the calendar year of the next regularly scheduled general election, and must be renewed after that. A request submitted before the November 2024 general election expired at the end of 2024. Voters can confirm their status with the Polk County Supervisor of Elections.
What happened to the CareerSource Polk CEO and board of directors?
On Oct. 6, Polk County commissioners voted 3-2 to permanently remove President and CEO Stacy Campbell-Domineck for cause, then voted 5-0 to remove the agency’s board of directors. Commissioners also removed Commissioner Michael Scott as the commission’s liaison to the workforce board by a 4-1 vote and appointed Commissioner Rick Troutman in his place. Nilda Blanco continues to run the agency as interim executive director.
What does CareerSource Polk do and is it still open?
CareerSource Polk is the local workforce development board for Polk County, funded under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to connect job seekers with employers and to fund occupational training. It continues to operate. Its Lakeland career center on North Ingraham Avenue is its only full-service location; its Bartow office offers no career services; and its Haines City satellite office is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Sources: “CareerSource Polk Names Nilda Blanco Interim Executive Director After Commissioners Remove CEO,” The Citrus Tea News, thecitrustea.com, September 10, 2026; “2026 General Election,” Polk County Supervisor of Elections, polkelections.gov, undated; “Vote-by-Mail,” Florida Department of State Division of Elections, dos.fl.gov, undated; Section 101.657, Florida Statutes, flsenate.gov, 2024; “Agenda, Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting,” Polk County Board of County Commissioners, polkcountyfl.legistar.com, October 6, 2026; “Career Development and Training,” CareerSource Polk, careersourcepolk.com, undated.
