Ryan pushed term limits in 2016

As a village trustee, John Ryan led the effort to impose three consecutive four-year term limits on Alsip's mayor and other elected officials. Voters approved the measure with over 80% support.

“The mayor made every attempt to obstruct voters' rights. Just let the voters decide.”

His rival opposed the limits

Mayor Patrick Kitching fought the term limit proposal, arguing that full-time mayors need time to grow into the job and that voting itself is the real term limit.

“Show me a town that has a full-time mayor and has term limits. Three terms for a mayor is ridiculous.”

Ryan became mayor in 2017

Ryan ran for mayor in 2017 and won by 60 votes. He has served as Alsip's mayor ever since, most recently winning unopposed in 2025.

Now Ryan is in his third term

Ryan is currently serving his third consecutive four-year term as mayor, which means he would be ineligible to run again under the 2016 term limit rules.

The board proposes extending limits

In August, the Alsip village board approved a resolution to place a ballot question in November asking voters whether to extend term limits from three to four consecutive terms.

Ryan supports the change

Village Clerk Renee Harding says Ryan supports putting the measure on the ballot and hopes it passes so he can run for another term.

Personal benefits are obvious

If voters approve the change and Ryan runs again and wins, he would stay in power longer, continue receiving taxpayer pay, and accrue more service credits for his public pension.

Kitching calls it opportunistic

Former Mayor Patrick Kitching, Ryan's bitter political rival, called the move opportunistic and compared it to when Ryan pushed for a salary cut while Kitching was mayor, then wanted a raise once he took office.

“Calling his successor 'no good,' Kitching described this as another opportunistic policy reversal by Ryan.”

Ryan won't discuss his plans

Ryan declined to answer questions about his feelings on the proposed change or whether he plans to run for reelection when his current term expires in 2029.

Ryan says he's not undoing limits

In an email to the Chicago Sun-Times, Ryan stated the board is simply asking voters whether they wish to modify the term limits, not trying to undo them entirely.

“We are not trying to undo term limits. The Alsip Village Board approved a resolution to place a question on the November 3, 2026, ballot.”

The original limits weren't retroactive

The 2016 term limits took effect after the 2017 election, so they didn't apply to Kitching, who was already in his third term. He could have run for three more consecutive terms but chose not to.

New resolution echoes old argument

The August resolution uses language similar to Kitching's 2016 argument, saying experienced leadership ensures efficient municipal management.

“The Mayor and Board of Trustees recognize that maintaining experienced leadership while continuously encouraging qualified public service ensures efficient and stable municipal management.”

Ryan didn't vote but didn't object

Ryan didn't have to vote on the August resolution but registered no objection and publicly said it needed approval that night to meet the ballot deadline.

Alsip is a small community

Alsip has just under 20,000 residents. Other suburbs with term limits include Tinley Park and Skokie.

Voters will decide in November

Alsip residents will vote on the term limit extension on November 3, 2026. If it passes, Ryan would be allowed to run for one additional four-year term.