From Pedaling to Politics: Meet a Bicycle Shop Owner-Turned-Mayor

— -- Mayor Chris Koos of Normal, Illinois, rarely walks to work. When he's not running the town as mayor, he's running a bicycle shop just a few blocks from city hall.

Koos started his cycling business nearly 36 years ago, long before he ran as a candidate in his first election 13 years ago.

As mayor of Normal, population 54,000, Koos is able to split his time between city hall and Vitesse Cycle Shop.

"Having that duality of roles here, being mayor and being a small business owner, I understand what small businesses need," said Koos.

On city council and later as mayor, he helped to develop a network of 43 miles of paved bicycle trails throughout the city.

"I always joke that I'm the only normal mayor in the United States," Koos said.

He's also likely the only major in the U.S. who also runs a bicycle shop.

In the neighboring city of Bloomington, population 78,000, another mayor proudly pedals the city's streets.

In addition to serving as mayor, Tari Renner teaches political science at Illinois Wesleyan University.

He pointed out that Bloomington is believed to be the birthplace of the state's Republican Party, following an 1856 speech given by Abraham Lincoln in the town.

However, Renner expressed concerned about the current Republican candidate for president. "The nastiness and rancor is just shocking," he said. "It seems that some candidates even make up their own facts."