The General Optical Council (GOC) has announced the list of candidates standing in the 2006 Council election.
The list includes familiar names such as David Cartwright, past president of the College of Optometrists and director of professional services at Boots Opticians Scott Mackie, organiser of the Eyecare 3000 events Chris Hunt, former managing director of Rodenstock UK and James Russell, outgoing president of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians.
Kam Gohil, the candidate from Specsavers at the centre of Glasses Direct's James Murray Wells' allegations of 'vote-rigging', is included in the candidate list.
An election, or poll, will be held in each of the 'constituencies' where the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled.
Four polls will be held: dispensing opticians, and optometrists in England, Scotland and Wales. Roger Anderson has been elected unopposed to represent optometrists in Northern Ireland.
Voting will open when papers are sent out later this month and close at 5pm on November 8. All full registrants who had a registered address in the UK on September 20 are eligible to vote in the election.
Electors may only vote in the relevant register. Registered dispensing opticians may vote for up to five candidates. Registered optometrists may vote for up to three candidates standing in England, and one candidate each for Scotland and Wales.
The current Council leaves office on December 31 with elected members taking up office the following day.
The full list of candidates and their nominators is available from the GOC website.