Yes.
Community Managers should not express their opinion on any candidate at any stage during an election.
Shog9 is a bad culprit here. He has expressed his opinions on 5 of the 6 candidates in the SFF election. What would be lost if he sat on his hands and didn't type his opinions on any of them? Let alone if he didn't come out with sarcasm and spite when someone asks whether CM intervention during elections is appropriate? Seriously. Could someone tell me what would be lost?
He says in a comment to one candidate's nomination that "It is important that a moderator is able to step back from his own participation and observe the effect it has on others, correcting if need-be". It's a shame he doesn't practice what he preaches.
His actions, and the support for recent actions by moderators, suggests the following question.
Is there a company policy to drive out top users?
I ask this question in all seriousness. If there is, perhaps the aim is to show remaining users their place, so that those with too much independence of spirit are deterred from participating or remaining here. Or perhaps it is because driving them out will raise the proportion of clicks that come from people who aren't already registered users, thereby increasing the value of advertising space? Let's not forget that this whole site is for the slapping of advertisements on freely contributed material.
If there isn't such a policy, then Shog9 has been stepping way out of line with his interventions, and should consider his position - or his employers should.
Shog9 - please don't respond to this answer for a week. Is that OK?
Those who downvote this answer, could they please identify themselves in the comments so that the community can know whether they work for the company or not, whether in paid or unpaid roles. Thank you.