Hennepin County has been redistricted for another ten years, under a plan that officials said divides fewer communities into separate districts than ever before.

For the first time ever only three commissioners will represent different sections of Minneapolis, continuing a trend that began years ago as the city's population shrinks in proportion to the county's. Four commissioners currently represent parts of the city.

County commissioners unanimously approved the plan Tuesday. No one testified at the third and final public hearing for the redistricting plan.

The new plan affirms that five of the seven County Board seats will be up for election in 2012. Three district elections already were scheduled, and two more -- in the First and Second districts -- will be held only two years after the last race because of significant population shifts.

That means that Board Chairman Mike Opat, who represents the First District, will have to run sooner than expected for re-election this year. Under the new plan, Opat will no longer represent the northern tip of Minneapolis.

An election would be held anyway in the Second District, because Commissioner Mark Stenglein will be stepping down next month to become president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. That election will be held in November along with other general elections, but the winner will take office immediately since the seat will be vacant.

The Second District stretches from Plymouth to St. Anthony and includes both the North Side and Northeast Minneapolis. With five seats on the ballot this year, the County Board chose the Second District seat for a two-year rather than four-year term to ensure that commissioner service is properly staggered according to state law.

Six people are running in the Second District: Minneapolis School Board Member Jill Davis, state Sen. Linda Higgins, former Stenglein aide Tonia Johnson, Golden Valley City Council Member Paula Pentel, Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels and Minneapolis Civil Rights investigator Blong Yang.

Hennepin County Commissioner districts