AP

Sarah Palin's successor sounded the official line Sunday to explain the Alaska governor's unexpected announcement she is retiring from political office. But Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell suggested the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate won't disappear from the political scene.

"She has plenty of time now within which to define how she will further her core values," Parnell said on "FOX News Sunday." "She doesn't need a title to effect change and bring some hope to people who need it."

Palin announced Friday that she will step down as governor on July 26.  She cited the millions in state money being spent to deal with document requests and other matters and said she has personally accumulated a $500,000 debt defending herself. Fifteen ethics complaints filed against her so far have been dismissed.

Parnell, who will replace Palin at the end of the month when she leaves office, said Palin was clear about the toll that ethics investigations has taken on her.

"It was costing just about $2 million of state taxpayers' dollars just to fund the staff to deal with the records requests and the like, and that -- that was just over the top, and I think she used the word insane in her -- in her remarks," he said.

Parnell added that Palin was tired of being dogged by the media and political opponents seeking to undo her.

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