Upon the filing of any contest of nomination, the chair of the executive committee with which the contest is filed shall file a statement in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the contestant resides of the fact that such a contest has been filed, giving the names of the parties thereto, the nomination contested and the day set for hearing. After such statement is filed, the clerk of the circuit court shall issue such subpoenas for witnesses and orders for production of documents and shall issue commissions for the taking of testimony by deposition as required by either party, each party to the contest being responsible for costs incurred by him or her for the summoning and attendance of witnesses on his or her behalf, and the clerk may issue execution for such costs the same as in civil cases. It shall be the duty of the sheriff to serve all process issued by the circuit clerk and execute all orders and processes of the executive committee or subcommittee trying the contest. Such executive committee or subcommittee shall have the same power and authority as the circuit judges of this state to enforce obedience to its orders and process and to punish disobedience to its orders by fine or imprisonment, as for contempt. Such executive committee or subcommittee, of its own motion or at the request of either party, may require any person to produce before it papers or documents pertinent to any inquiry before such executive committee or subcommittee. The chair of the executive committee or subcommittee trying the contest may issue directly to the sheriff process for the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents or commissions for taking depositions without the intervention of the circuit clerk, as provided in this article.