Term Ends: 2026
Party: N
Tonya was born and raised here in West Baton Rouge Parish. She lived in Bueche with her mother and sister before moving to Erwinville. She attended school at Chamberlain Elementary, West SideAcademy, False River Academy and graduated from Port Allen High School in 1992.
She graduated from Louisiana State University in 1996 and attended Southern University Law Center where she graduated in 1999 and began practicing law.
During high school and throughout college she worked at McDonalds in Port Allen before being hired as a student worker for the State of Louisiana and then as a law clerk for the Judge in Division B- the seat she will now hold as her own.
She got engaged in high school and married John Lurry, Jr. in 1995. Together they have 3 children- Kennedy Courtney, 17; Blakeley Alyssa, 14; Layne Laughlin, 6.
During the past 18 years she has practiced law not only as a solo practitioner, but she has also been employed as a Public Defender in both East Baton Rouge and most recently in West Baton Rouge, as an assistant district attorney and has also owned a daycare for 11 years. She sold the daycare to devote her time to campaigning for this position.
She has a vast amount of experience in criminal, civil and family law and has handled well over 40 felony jury trials during her career.