Carolyn Hugley responds to continued criticism over COVID funds

House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley is responding to continued criticism on the campaign trail over her business receiving COVID relief funds. Representative Hugley was approved for a $29,000 small business grant for her State Farm Insurance agency in Columbus during the pandemic back in 2022 and she told NowGeorgia.com “I have done nothing wrong.”

President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law March 11, 2021, allocating billions in funding to meet the urgent needs of communities during the pandemic. The grant money Hugley received generated a firestorm of controversy in Columbus after it was made public last year because her husband, Isaiah Hugley was the city manager at the time. Now Mayor-elect Isaiah Hugley said in a 2025 council meeting that he did disclose his wife’s grant application to the public, but no video or official minutes ever materialized by the city to corroborate his remarks.

The Columbus Ledger reported it was the Columbus Chamber of Commerce that was tapped to process and administer those COVID funds not the city, but Isaiah Hugley was aware of his wife’s application and forwarded it to the mayor and city attorney. A very public and bitter battle erupted between Isaiah Hugley and at least one member of city council over the grant money shortly before he was terminated as city manager for unrelated issues.

Representative Carolyn Hugley said her business had a legitimate need, and she followed the process like every other small business who suffered during the pandemic. “I have been a business owner for the last 38 years, meaning I signed the front of paychecks. And COVID happened to my business, just like every other small business. And we applied, and we followed all the rules, like every other small business, and so we did nothing wrong.”

Hugley’s Republican challenger in House District 141, Reggie Liparoto highlighted the grant money Hugley received in a recent campaign speech to conservative voters which Liparoto used to segway into allegations of criminal misconduct by other legislators. “Show us where you hurt during that time enough to have that money,” Liparoto said.

Hugley’s Republican opponent demanded to see the evidence her business was suffering. “I think transparency is a very important element of integrity. So, open the books to all of us. Show us where the money went. Show us how you broke it down, show you where you need it. Show us your losses in your business. Show us your names of your employees. Show us your tax record. Show us all of that. Show where you needed it. Because it looked like free money, and you just took it and now you’re gaslighting everybody,” Liparoto told NowGeorgia.com.

Hugley categorically denied there was ever any wrongdoing “I have a responsibility to the people who work for me, just like every other small business. We were in a period of uncertainty, so I have done nothing wrong. I have done what any responsible businessperson was doing at that time.”

Representative Hugley was first elected in 1992 and has not faced opposition on the ballot since 2012 she said. “It gives me an opportunity to say how much I appreciate the citizens of the House District 141 for allowing me to be their voice under the gold dome. The seat belongs to the citizens. I’ve always said that. I respect that, and I honored them, and I appreciate them giving me another opportunity to continue to represent them.”