SPRINGFIELD - Since taking office in 2003, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been criticized for not living in the Executive Mansion in Springfield.

State records, however, show the governor had a pretty good reason for not staying overnight in the 153-year-old home late last year.

According to documents filed with the Illinois Auditor General, there was a water leak in the governor's private quarters on the upper floors of the mansion in November.

The leak damaged the ceiling of the mansion ballroom and threatened a walnut-paneled library next to the ballroom. Because of the leak and the resulting repairs, mansion director David Bourland shut off the water in the governor's private apartment.

"If the leak is not fixed and water damages the library walnut walls, the cost to repair will be much higher," Bourland noted in his request for the repairs.

Blagojevich, who lives in a bungalow on Chicago's north side, occasionally stays at the mansion when he's in Springfield. But, he usually takes a state airplane home to Chicago each night. His frequent use of the state plane has drawn catcalls from lawmakers who say it is a waste of taxpayer cash.

In a memo, Bourland noted he closed the ballroom for safety reasons after the leak was discovered.

David Blanchette, spokesman for the Illinois Capital Development Board, which oversees repairs and construction of state facilities, said the plumbing failure was due to the advanced age of the building.

The cost to fix the problem: $20,986.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.