Ronny Jane Sydney (née Metz; born July 10, 1938) is an American teacher, lawyer, and politician who represented the 15th Norfolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1999 to 2001. Early life and education She was born on July 10, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York to Ruth Frankel and M. Stanley Metz. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1960, Newton College with a Master of Education degree in 1972, and from Boston College Law School with a Juris Doctor in 1987. She later became a teacher working for the Brookline Public School district. Legal career She has practiced law in Boston and Brookline. She formerly practiced law with Israel, Van Kooy & Days, LLC. Political career She was a member and later chair of the Brookline Board of Selectmen from 1992 to 1998. Massachusetts House of Representatives In 1998, Sydney defeated 14-term incumbent John Businger in the Democratic primary for the 15th Norfolk District House seat by 35 votes. She ran unopposed in the general election. In 2000, Sydney lost to Brookline School Committee member Frank Smizik 2,517 votes to 2,336. Broward County Democratic Party Between 2017 and 2018 she served as an area leader for the Broward County Democratic Party representing Coconut Creek and Margate in Florida. Post-political career She was later a family law attorney for the BNI Brookline Networkers. She is now retired from practicing law and resides in Coconut Creek, Florida. References Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Politicians from Brookline, Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Social and Behavioral Sciences alumni Boston College Law School alumni Living people 1938 births Massachusetts city council members Women state legislators in Massachusetts 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century American lawyers 20th-century American lawyers Massachusetts lawyers People from Brooklyn Florida Democrats Newton College of the Sacred Heart alumni