General Optical Council announces election candidates

The General Optical Council (GOC) has announced the list of candidates standing in the 2006 Council election.

The list includes familiar names including 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.

Kamlesh 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.