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The Collier County Republican Executive Committee does not have an exclusive franchise on loyalty oath issues.

The same statewide pledge that compelled Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta to quit the party leadership rather than renege on his loyalty to Florida Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, who is running as an independent against incumbent U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, R-Fort Myers, has been rejected by two Lee GOP Executive Committee members.

One of them is a full-fledged American hero who laid his life on the line for democracy. Jim Dozier, then a brigadier general and top-ranking American with NATO forces in Italy, was kidnapped by the terrorist Red Brigades and rescued a month later in 1982. The other is Glee Duff of Estero.

Both say their refusals to sign the loyalty oath — to publicly back only GOP candidates in partisan races — has nothing to do with the Saunders-Mack race. In fact, both of them say they support Mack.

Instead, their heartburn is with philosophy. Duff says the oath would require him to support a Republican in a particular race even if he or she is “a fool.” Dozier uses the term “nitwit.’’

“America is built on good leadership,” Duff says. Dozier, of Fort Myers, concurs.

• • •

The League of Women Voters of Collier County has a reputation for sponsoring high-quality, fair, bipartisan debates.

But in one case, the League bends too far backward.

The League has decided to cancel part of a televised Friday candidates forum dedicated to the Collier County Commission District 5 Republican nomination contest between incumbent Jim Coletta and challenger Roberto Alonso.

Why? Because Alonso has declined the invitation. He says the County Commission chambers are too small and Coletta’s home field; the event should be held on a Saturday for maximum attendance; and the League should submit its questions in advance.

Alonso’s absence would have left Coletta by himself — what the League refers to as an “empty chair” debate, which is against statewide League rules.

So, the guy who decides not to show up is allowed to call the shots?

Coletta is denied the opportunity to address constituents because his opponent is unhappy?

With all due respect to the League, that’s nuts.

• • •

Slowly, yet surely, support is fading in Lee County for tolling lanes five and six of Interstate 75 there to help pay for lanes seven through 10.

Though the County Commission remains officially in favor, two members this past week said the idea is shelved.

Commissioner Frank Mann says that after giving $700,000 this fiscal year to the Southwest Florida Expressway Authority, there is no money earmarked so far for 2008-09. Commissioner Bob Janes says 10 lanes won’t be needed for 25-30 years and the project can wait.

Collier County pulled back from tolling five and six long ago.

Now we’ll see if another agency, such as the Florida Turnpike Commission, might try to come in and force it.

Last word: The regional chief of the Florida Department of Transportation dangles a carrot. Stan Cann says that if Alligator Alley in Collier and Broward counties were privatized, Collier’s share of the loot could pay for lanes seven through 10 without tolls — in Collier only. Lee would still need tolls.

Right. That’ll work.

• • •

Meanwhile, aside from all the blah-blah, woof-woof, there is some actual public service work getting done. A member of U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV’s staff in Naples earns an A-plus-plus.

One day this past week I called the office at 252-6225 on behalf of a senior citizen reader who was tired of getting answering machines at Social Security offices. I knew that Mack’s predecessor, Porter Goss, had written the book on cutting through red tape and wondered if the tradition carries on.

I was not optimistic when I encountered a message machine in Mack’s office. But a short time later a staff member called to advise she had solved the reader’s problem, and she wanted me to make sure to tell everyone having the same problem they are welcome to call — and they should ask for her by name, Adrian.

Other government offices run from that kind of contact like a vampire from sunlight.

It took a call to Mack’s Washington office to get clearance to print her last name, because, she said, she is really not authorized to talk to the press.

It’s Mirabilio, Washington said.

Adrian Mirabilio.

Nice work, Adrian Mirabilio. At 252-6225.

Jeff Lytle is editorial page editor of the Daily News. His e-mail address is jflytle@naplesnews.com. Call him at 263-4773.