# Gary Knapp

Gary Thomas Knapp (born 1947) is a former New Zealand politician of the Social Credit Party. == Political career == He became Member of Parliament for East Coast Bays in 1980 when he defeated National candidate Don Brash in the 1980 by-election caused by the resignation of the sitting National MP. Knapp joined Bruce Beetham in parliament, where they both had high profiles. In 1981 Knapp was elected deputy leader at the party's annual conference.In the 1984 election, while Beetham lost Rangitikei to a National Party challenger, Knapp retained East Coast Bays, and another Social Credit candidate, Neil Morrison, won Pakuranga.