Despite running against more progressive candidates and allegations of ethical misconduct, Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin has picked up several citywide endorsements with clout.

She is running for Congress in Illinois’ 7th District in the primary election March 9, on a Democratic ballot that includes incumbent Danny Davis, activist Kina Collins, principal Nikhil Bhatia and former Obama campaign staffer Kouri Marshall.

On Feb. 14, heavyweight Chicago Teachers Union announced it was endorsing her.

“As a union that is overwhelmingly made up of women who see the challenges families face every day, we believe it’s time to send a working mom to Congress,” said Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, in a statement. “For too long now, Washington has failed to prioritize working families and our communities. If we are going to have equitable and sustainable investment in the neighborhoods that need it most, then we need leadership we can trust.”

“We know that she’ll prioritize our public schools, affordable housing, lowering costs for working families and making the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes,” Davis Gates added.

Conyears-Ervin said in a statement that she was “proud” of the union’s endorsement.

“There are few fighters on behalf of our kids and our communities like the Chicago Teachers Union,” she said.

The support comes on top of backing from two other unions, the Chicago Firefighters Local 2 and the Illinois Nurses Association.

“We’re committed to supporting champions of the labor movement and healthcare in the state of Illinois, and Melissa Conyears-Ervin has demonstrated that she’s committed to the same goals as the INA and its members,” said the Illinois Nurses Association in a statement.

Also, earlier this month, Ald. Jeanette Taylor of the 20th Ward on the South Side and West Side Al. Chris Taliaferro of the 29th Ward announced their endorsements.

“It’s time for change in the 7th Congressional District. Melissa Conyears-Ervin is a working mom who will get a Congress that isn’t working for our community back on track,” Taylor and Taliaferro said in a joint statement. “She has the energy and vision to bring a new focus and commitment to lowering costs, building up our neighborhoods and investing in our children’s education. We’re proud to endorse her.”

Still, whether Conyears-Ervin can weather the storm over her ethics allegations remains to be seen.

“It depends on the other campaigns, if they’re going to elevate that issue or ignore it,” said Delmarie Cobb, owner of The Publicity Works, a political consulting and media relations firm in Chicago. “There’s some fodder there for them and, if they decide to make that an issue, it’s there and it’s documented. It’s not negative campaigning necessarily because it’s actual facts.”

Last November, the city released a letter that showed that two of Conyears-Ervin’s ex-employees were reportedly fired for questioning the treasurer’s unethical behavior. Such conduct included hiring an assistant who lacked the required financial training and approaching BMO Harris Bank to give a mortgage to the building where her husband, Ald. Jason Ervin, used to work.

Conyears-Ervin admitted approaching the bank, although she said she didn’t know it was wrong.

The letter also mentioned that Conyears-Ervin had staff run her personal errands and plan her daughter’s birthday party.

Although Conyears-Ervin wasn’t named in a report released last month by the city’s Office of Inspector General, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg decided that the treasurer violated the city’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance.

But Conyears-Ervin still has a moment to bounce back.

“She certainly has time,” Cobb said, since these accusations “came out early enough that she could correct it and change the perception.”