Safelite

Kelli Arthur Hykes is a government relations professional with 25 years of experience working with local, state and federal policymakers. Her career has focused largely on health, including leading legislative efforts for nonprofits and serving as the first Director of Public Health Policy for the City of Columbus before moving into the private sector. She currently serves as Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Safelite. In 2026, she became the first woman elected to the Norwich Township Board of Trustees, where she serves as chair, advocating for pedestrian safety, improved data center safety plans and air quality monitoring. She holds a BA in Political Science and Communications from The University of Alabama and an MA in Public Policy and Management from The Ohio State University.

Speaking the Language of Better Public Policy: Perspective from a government affairs professional who also holds elected office.

There is an assumption that elected officials and government affairs professionals occupy opposite sides of the table. In reality, both are working toward the same objective: solving problems through public policy. Having spent more than 25 years in government affairs across local government, nonprofit advocacy, health policy, industry-leading private-sector businesses and now serving simultaneously as an elected township trustee and Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Safelite, I have come to appreciate how much each role benefits from understanding the other.

One philosophy has guided me throughout my career: effective advocacy begins by talking to people in the language they are willing to hear. That does not mean changing the facts or telling different stories to different audiences. It means understanding what information matters to the person making the decision. An engineer, a mayor, a state legislator, a business executive and a constituent may all be evaluating the same issue through different lenses. My job is to present accurate information in a way that is relevant to their responsibilities, allowing them to make informed decisions.

That approach is rooted in data, not just persuasion. The strongest advocates do not rely on volume, political pressure, or personal relationships alone. They earn credibility by bringing reliable information, identifying practical implications, acknowledging tradeoffs and answering difficult questions honestly. Good public policy depends on sound data, but data alone is rarely enough. Decision-makers also need context, implementation experience and an understanding of how a proposal will affect the people and organizations they serve.

Serving as an elected official has reinforced that lesson. Every vote requires balancing competing priorities, limited resources, constituent expectations, legal obligations and long-term consequences. While data is essential, it is only useful if it is credible. As an elected official, I value advocates who present complete information, even when parts of it may not support their preferred outcome. Transparency builds credibility and credibility builds influence.

Likewise, my work in government affairs has shaped how I govern. Years of analyzing legislation, evaluating economic impacts and anticipating unintended consequences have strengthened my ability to separate advocacy from evidence. I have learned that policy discussions are most productive when they begin with a shared understanding of the facts before moving to differences in priorities or philosophy.

At a time when confidence in public institutions is under strain, government affairs professionals and elected officials have an opportunity to rebuild trust by elevating facts, embracing transparency and engaging one another with respect.

This dual perspective has also changed how I think about relationships. Too often, government affairs is characterized as a profession built on schmoozing or access. In my experience, the strongest relationships are built on something much more durable: trust. Trust is established by consistently providing accurate information, following through on commitments, respecting differing viewpoints and serving as a reliable resource regardless of whether someone agrees with your position. Relationships are not the goal; they are the product of credibility demonstrated over time.

At a time when confidence in public institutions is under strain, government affairs professionals and elected officials have an opportunity to rebuild trust by elevating facts, embracing transparency and engaging one another with respect. Whether I am representing my township or advocating for Safelite and the customers we serve, my responsibility is the same: provide decision-makers with the information they need, communicate it in the language they are willing to hear and help shape policies grounded in evidence, informed by experience and strengthened through trust.