Sometimes everything does come out in the wash.

For what seems like an eternity now the buzz around politics in Southwest Mississippi has been a loud, bad one. The scandals around Adams County Circuit Clerk M.L. “Binkey” Vines and Jefferson County Circuit Clerk Burnell Harris drew statewide attention, laughs and scoffs directed our way.

The justice system failed Adams County taxpayers when an out-of-town judge let Vines walk free after he admitted to embezzling public money.

Harris was found guilty, yet allowed to run for re-election on a technicality.

Justice has been a mockery in these parts for months.

But the best thing about the way our country was set up involves a wonderful system of checks and balances.

Though Vines escaped his punishment and Harris’ is yet to come, the voters still had a say in the end.

Tuesday, both clerks lost their jobs.

Voters stamped an affirmative “fired” across the men’s names, and hopefully ended the drama.

Yes, we’d still like to see both men behind bars, but now it’s time for our counties to move on.

Let’s close this chapter of negativity and begin a new one built on truth, honesty and integrity.

Despite the so-called justice system, the people made it right in Southwest Mississippi, and for that, we should be proud.