Voting Options
Early Voting
April 6–24, 2026
At the Library Circulation Desk
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Wednesday & Thursday: 4 PM – 7:30 PM
Annual Meeting & In‑Person Voting
Sunday, April 26, 2026 • 2 PM
Flood Family Meeting Room, Hudson Library
Homebound Voting
Available by request.
The Hudson Library and Historical Society Board of Trustees’ Elections Committee has received four applications for three open Board of Trustee positions. The three positions will be filled through an election procedure including in-person voting at the Annual Meeting of the Members of the Library on Sunday, April 26, 2026, early voting at the Library from April 6, 2026 to April 24, 2026, and homebound voting through request. Early voting will take place at the Library circulation desk during the following hours; on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.; and on Wednesday and Thursday from 4 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. The Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 2 P.M. in the Library’s Flood Family Meeting Room.
The Hudson Library’s Board of Trustees consists of nine Trustees, three of whom are elected annually to three-year terms. The three Trustees elected on April 26th will serve terms ending at the 2029 Annual Meeting. Eligible voters include Hudson residents at least 18 years of age who are registered to vote and who cast a vote through in-person voting, early voting, or homebound voting. Voter registration will be confirmed, Eligible voters must present current photo identification and proof of residency. All voters are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and stay to the end for the announcement of the three, newly elected, Board of Trustee Members.
This year, registered voters will choose between four candidates, three of whom are incumbents seeking re-election. They are Samuel Barnett, Beverly Dorson, and Basil Musnuff. They are joined by Valerie Ott. The candidates are listed below in alphabetical order and a video of each candidate will be available on the Library website.
Samuel Barnett, a Hudson resident for 10 years, holds an undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College, an M.A. from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue. He also took courses at Villanova University in human resources, administration, education, and marketing. His career as an educator has included being a college and independent school faculty member, an administrator, a college counselor, and a senior consultant. Currently, he works part-time at the Learned Owl Book Store. He enjoys and participates in many aspects of the library and assists with the Friends of the Library. He and his wife chose specifically to live in Hudson because of the library. He wants to continue to work with the challenges of funding the library and the ongoing threats of censorship.
Beverly Dorson, a 42 year resident of Hudson, holds an undergraduate degree from Hiram College, an M.A. in Library Science from Kent State University and 48 hours beyond her masters in Library Science. She was an English teacher who became a librarian working at elementary, middle, high school, and bookmobile libraries. She is passionate about all things library. She is a member of the Friends of the Hudson Library Board of Trustees and serves as their Volunteer Coordinator. She is actively involved in many community organizations including the League of Women Voters, and the Hudson League for Service. She especially enjoys the library’s monthly concerts and the country-themed months. She feels that more people need to realize what a gem the library is.
Basil Musnuff, a 16 year resident of Hudson, holds a B.A. with honors from Haverford College and a J.D. magna cum laude from Cornell Law School. He is an attorney who began his career with a clerkship at the U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, and then moved to Ohio where he served as Assistant Attorney General for Ohio, and at several law firms becoming a partner. He now does consulting work. Currently, he serves as President of the Board of Trustees and is involved in all aspects of Board operations. During his tenure, he believes that he has helped to advance the Hudson Library and Historical Society, but that there is a lot of work that remains especially related to preserving the library’s financial future and to protecting intellectual freedom. He has extensive, direct experience with the library and it’s workings. He still has a vision of a greater library for the Hudson community with more participation.
Valerie Ott, a 15 year resident of Hudson, holds a Bachelor of English from Xavier University and a Masters of Library and Information Science from Kent State
University. She served as the Reference Department Manager for the Wadsworth Public Library from 2001-2006, and then as an editor, writer, content creator, copy chief, and editorial director for various organizations. Most recently, she has been the Director of Communications for the First Congregational Church in Hudson. As an active member of her church, she has led teens on mission trips to help underserved populations giving her experience in collaborative planning and
community-based service. She believes that public libraries are a cornerstone of an informed, curious, and engaged community and wants to help our library continue to provide broad access to information while representing the diverse perspectives of Hudson. She would like to see the library continue to invest in long-term planning-both financially and strategically-to ensure that it is well- positioned to serve Hudson in the future.
