Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin officially left office Sunday. Unknown before Republican presidential candidate John McCain selected her to be his running mate, Palin quit state politics 17 months before her term was completed. (CBC)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin officially left office Sunday.

She turned over power to Lt.-Gov. Sean Parnell.

In a farewell speech in Fairbanks, she warned against big government but gave few clues about her long-term political plans.

Palin was a relative political unknown a year ago when Republican presidential candidate John McCain selected her to be his running mate. The partisan election created problems for Palin when she returned to Alaska.

Her once congenial relationship with lawmakers soured, and Palin became the target of nearly 20 ethics complaints.

She cited the resulting investigation's financial toll as the main reason she was quitting 17 months before her term was completed.