Former Lawmaker Sues City Of Torrington Officials

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A former Wyoming state lawmaker is suing City of Torrington officials claiming that they violated his free speech rights by excluding him from city budget talks this spring.

The Associated Press reports former state Sen. Russell Zimmer claims Torrington officials banned him from city buildings after he attended a city council budget session on April 26. The ban was set to last until the city adopted its budget on July 1 but city officials dropped it after Zimmer filed his lawsuit in June.

Zimmer's lawsuit names Torrington Mayor Michael Varney and Torrington Police Chief Billy Janes as defendants. Attorneys for the defendants didn't comment to the newspaper.

Zimmer served about 20 years in the Wyoming Legislature and was Senate president in 1989 and '90.