WEST WARWICK — College-level politics has become campaign fodder in the Republican primary for the District 27 seat in the House of Representatives.

Candidate Thomas K. Jones is questioning the integrity of his party-endorsed opponent, Rhode Island College senior Ericka J. Atwell, pointing to her resignation from RIC’s Student Community Government amid a voter fraud controversy in March.

“This is the Republican Party leadership’s idea of a qualified candidate for public office,” said Jones, who had not sought the endorsement. “If the Republican Party is going to be taken seriously in Rhode Island, we need to run serious candidates with a track record of being involved in their communities.”

Jones and Atwell are vying for the right to challenge incumbent Democrat Patricia Serpa in November.

Atwell, 22, stepped down as deputy speaker of the student organization after the group’s leaders found her guilty of conspiracy to commit election fraud and dishonorable conduct, according to the student newspaper, The Anchor. Student officers accused Atwell of obtaining signatures for another student’s application under false pretenses, according to reports.

Atwell said she did help the student collect signatures, but that she did nothing wrong and was just trying to help another student get involved in the political process. The accusations and subsequent trial, she said, were unwarranted.

“This was school politics at its finest,” Atwell said. “I’ve moved on to bigger and better things. I loved serving the students and working with the administration, but I learned that sometimes you have to cut your losses and move forward.”

Last week, Atwell said the situation had been a “learning experience” that would not happen again. This year, Atwell has been an intern with Governor Carcieri’s office of policy and legislative affairs, an experience she said has only heightened her desire to be involved in government. She graduates in December with a degree in communications and a minor in political science, which Atwell feels will help prepare her for work in the legislature.

“I want to be a part of the process and bring ideas to the table,” she said. “I can get things done. I can have conversations with people regardless of their party. It’s not about that. It’s about the people of Rhode Island. I want to be a part of the process and bring my ideas to the table.”

tbuford@projo.com