Cox was first elected to the council in 2008 in the Eaglehawk Ward, achieving 32.73% of the primary vote and 58.45% of the two candidate preferred vote, defeating incumbent councilor Elaine Harrington.[2]
In the 2012 election, Cox contested the Whipstick Ward after new three ward structure was introduced. He was elected with 33.71% of the vote.
Cox was elected as mayor by the council in 2014, succeeding Barry Lyons. Like Lyons, Cox's career as mayor of Bendigo was significantly impacted by the controversy surrounding the approval of the city's first mosque.[3][4] The proposal, which he supported, faced strong opposition from some community members, leading to protests and public debate. This issue became a focal point of his mayoralty, and the backlash somewhat overshadowed his broader work in local government.