I think this is a reference to the stabilizer, because the elevators are controlled by cable connected to the yoke and are hydraulically powered. Since stabilizer (trim) can overpower elevator force, uncommanded changes in this control surface could be really bad, depending on how a short manifests into control surface movements.

I can't assess the relative probabilities: a short happening vs the fix inducing some other problem. But I do wonder whether there's another way to mitigate it.