Chris Koos

Chris Koos is the current mayor of Normal, Illinois and is serving as a member of the Amtrak Board of Directors.

He is the longest serving Mayor in the history of the town of Normal.

Political history
Chris Koos began serving as a Normal council member in 2001. He became mayor of Normal in 2003, which he has been serving as for 21 years. He was preceded by Kent Karraker, who stepped down due to health reason's. Which lead to Chris Koos appointment as mayor.

He was originally nominated to the Amtrak Board of Directors in May 2020 by President Donald Trump, of which he was recommended to by Senator Dick Durbin. Koos was re-nominated by President Joe Biden in April 2022. He was finally confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 24, 2024, to the Amtrak Board of Directors.

He is running for re-election to a 6th term as mayor in 2025.

Personal life
Born in 1948, he grew up in Bloomington-Normal and attended Central Catholic High School and Illinois State University.

Koos owns Vitesse Cycle Shop, a specialty biking and running store in Normal.

He was also an Infantry Platoon Leader in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1971.

In the media
Koos made an appearance in season 20 episode 519 (Grand Finale) of American Idol. Due to local Leah Marlene who was from Normal making the finals, in which he named Tuesday May 15, 2022, Leah Marlene Day. The episode received 6.49 million viewers live.