SACRAMENTO (AP) __ Kevin Shelley is spent Friday as his last day as California´s 28th secretary of state.

His departure at midnight tonight closes a tumultuous chapter in the office´s history and clears the way for his nominated replacement. That´s former Republican State Senator Bruce McPherson of Santa Cruz. Shelley, a Democrat, resigned February 4th amid numerous investigations into his personal and ethical conduct as the state´s top elections official. Aides say he´s spending the day in his San Francisco home, attending to paperwork. He´s offering no comment, nor issuing statements. Senate leaders say they will begin hearings to consider confirming McPherson on March 16th.