A US voter has been in touch with a north-east councillor asking him to stand down – after confusing him for a candidate in the California governor’s race.
John Cox, who represents Banff and District, shares his name with a Republican businessman who is now running for office in the Golden State.
And his opponents have seemingly confused the pair, with one woman urging him to step down from the gubernatorial election which will take place in November.
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On Monday evening, Banff’s Mr Cox had to take time out to question one US woman who reached out over Facebook.
The US voter claimed that Mr Cox was being backed by investor George Soros, a billionaire with links to liberal political causes and a critic of Donald Trump.
However, Mr Cox assured her that he had no plans to take over the role, which was once filled by film star Arnold Schwarzenegger, any time soon.
In the message sent on social media, the voter said: “John, please drop out.
“We do not want you and you are hurting California with your (George) Soros backed campaign.
“Travis Allen is our best candidate.”
Mr Cox pointed out to her that he lives in Scotland, and he has since made light of the situation.
Last night, he said: “I appreciated at the time that Arnold Schwarzenegger had a hard act to follow after my stint as councillor.
“The Press and Journal does a good job of getting people’s comments out there online and into the world and that’s maybe what has happened here, but it certainly came out of the blue when this woman sent me a message.
“Obviously, I’m open to offers but right now my bags aren’t packed if they want me over in California – and I’m sure some people might enjoy seeing me over there.
“As they say, a day is a long time in politics and never say never.”
The Mr Cox she meant to contact is John Herman Cox, who dubs himself the “only true conservative running for California governor”.
A former radio host, his show created a website in 2003 which nominated prominent public figures including Jacques Chirac and Martin Sheen as “friends of Saddam”.
He aims to uphold the second amendment – the right to bear arms – and “unshackle the productive capacity” of the state.
A different career path for the two men
The north-east’s John Cox has had a vastly different political career to his US counterpart.
Mr Cox entered the political arena in 1994 to represent Banff in the old Banff and District Council.
And since then he has been re-elected at each time of asking.
Previously, he had worked at his family’s salmon company, taking on the management of a number of seafood projects.
Until 2017, he had done all this as a member of the SNP.
But following a challenge to lead the party at Aberdeenshire Council, Mr Cox – once one of its most senior members – claimed he was “not allowed” to stand for the group again.
He said it was because he refused to follow the party’s line on Brexit and business rate rises.
Mr Cox has since been re-elected as an independent councillor.
His US counterpart, meanwhile, is yet to taste political success.
A Republican businessman, John Herman Cox has founded law, investment and real estate firms in the country.
He was also the host of The Progressive Conservative, a twice-weekly radio show.
He ran for Congress in 2000, Senate in 2002 and attempted to become Cook County Recorder of Deeds in 2004, but has yet to find the popular vote.
Mr H. Cox even tried to become US president in 2008, announcing his intention to run two years earlier.
He dropped out of the race before a Republican nominee was selected.
His latest bid in California, where he hopes to become governor, has been endorsed by Newt Gingrich and several pro-life organisations in the California area.
