(a) A protest in writing, under oath, may be filed with the city clerk by a registered elector eligible to vote in the recall election or by the elected officer sought to be recalled, not later than 20 days after the city clerk has issued an initial determination of sufficiency, setting forth with particularity the grounds of such protest and the names protested. No such protest shall be accepted by the city clerk until an initial determination of sufficiency has been issued. The city clerk shall mail a copy of such protest to both the petition representative(s) and the elected officer sought to be recalled. Along with the copy of such protest, the city clerk shall send a notice fixing a time for hearing such protest not less than ten nor more than 20 days after such notice is mailed. The city clerk may appoint a hearing officer who shall not be an officer, employee, or agent of the City, and shall not have any relationship with the protestant or the nonprotesting party.

(b) Upon the filing of any protest with the city clerk, all proceedings upon the recall petition shall be suspended until final disposition of such protest. If an election is thereafter required to be held, the period of time required for protest procedures shall not be included in the computation of time periods under this article, and any such periods shall be extended by the time required for such procedures.