In 1990, Gerard was elected Chairman of Committees. Until 1992, the Chairman of Committees was known as the Deputy Speaker only when presiding over the House. On 10 November 1992, the position of Deputy Speaker was made official under the Standing Orders, and the role of Chairman of Committees was discontinued, with Gerard becoming the first Deputy Speaker.[4] He held that role until 13 December 1996.
Gerard was elected Mayor of Waimakariri in 2001. He was re-elected in 2004, but lost the mayoralty in 2007 to Ron Keating.[5][9] In October 2010, he was elected councillor for Waimakariri[10] and was again returned to that role in 2013.[11] At the 2016 and 2019 local elections, Gerard did not contest a councillor position; instead, he contested and was elected to the Rangiora community board.[12][13]
Notes
^Who’s Who in the New Zealand Parliament 1993 by the Parliamentary Service, Wellington NZ