Sydnie Mae Durand studied environmental training at the University of Southwestern Louisiana and worked in the Lafayette oil industry for 37 years. She began her career in public service by serving on the St. Martin Parish Police Jury, District 4. for 3 terms, beginning in 1980 through 1992, and was the first female president of the St. Martin Parish Police Jury. In 1992 she became the first woman elected to serve as a State Representative for District 46, serving until 2008.