ITHACA, N.Y. — Fourth Ward Alderperson Patrick Kuehl announced Wednesday that he will resign from Ithaca Common Council effective Aug. 5. Kuehl’s resignation cuts short the four-year term he was elected to serve in 2023. He said in a statement that he is stepping down in order to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where he will study American government and public law. Kuehl noted some of the challenges the council ha…