Veteran councillor and Ahuriri Ward member Keith Price said the "whole council" is united it is reflected in the commitment to the Three Waters fight.
The decision of Cr Simpson to challenge for the Mayoralty, the first announcement of any such challenges this year in Hawke's Bay has possibly come as a surprise to outsiders, but Price said: "Nothing surprises me in the world of politics."
McGrath said there had been disruption in the 2016-2019 council, a term which ended with a change of Mayor and changes to five of the 12 elected council positions, had significant disruption and "nothing was achieved".
But he said that over much of the drama of the November 2019 flood, and Covid-19, and the War Memorial centre issues which had dogged the Council, the council is in a position "to get things done".
Simpson, who has a former professional career in local government employment behind him, said in a written announcement of his candidacy: "Significant change will be forced on Local Government in the next few years and Napier needs a leader who has managed through previous change and is capable of leading a significant reset in our organisation and establishing an agile responsive new organisation."