Rath left her position May 9 to work full-time on her political campaign for McKinney’s City Council At-Large seat Rath left her position May 9 to work full-time on her political campaign for McKinney’s City Council At-Large seat[/caption]

Tracy Rath left her position with McKinney-based Minuteman Disaster Response May 9 to work full-time on her political campaign for McKinney’s City Council At-Large seat.

"Working for Minuteman and the volunteers involved has been a wonderful experience," said Rath in a news release.


Prior to joining Minuteman in 2014, Rath served as chair of the McKinney Community Development Corporation, president of the McKinney Ladies Association, and was Project Manager for the McKinney Performing Arts Center rehabilitation project. Rath is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and a graduate of Leadership McKinney, Citizens Police Academy and Citizens Fire Academy.

"Tracy Rath has been integral in implementing policies and procedures, development of our training program as well as building partnerships that led to Minuteman’s Memorandum Of Understanding with Collin County and the Department of Homeland Security," said MDR Board Member Mark David in a news release. "Her skill set has taken us to the next level. We will miss her."

Rath will be replaced by Matt Payne, who has been a Minuteman volunteer since 2012. For the last 12 years Payne served local churches including Genesis Church in McKinney where he served as the ministries and outreach pastor.

“Matt’s heart has always been and continues to be about helping those in need and serving to make the community a better place,” said MDR Founder Paul Pogue, in a news release.

Matt has deployed several times with Minuteman including trips to Moore, OK, Granbury, TX, Vilonia, AR and most recently to Bridge Creek, OK and Van, TX.

“Minuteman is about being there to help people in a desperate time of need.  To me, there’s no better way to give your time than to help someone in need”, says Matt.  “I have believed in the mission of MDR since the beginning and I look forward to taking what Tracy has accomplished and building upon it to bring continued growth and success to our organization.”