Liberator Appointed to State Real Estate Vacancy

John R. Liberator has been appointed chief deputy commissioner of the California Department of Real Estate, the second highest post in the department, according to Director James A. Edmonds Jr.

Liberator, 36, of Sacramento, succeeds Robert P. Martinez, who was appointed director of the state Office of Economic Opportunity by Gov. George Deukmejian last September.

The new chief deputy commissioner was formerly the department’s mortgage lending activities manager, a post filled by Larry W. Smith. Smith’s post, managing deputy commissioner of the department’s licensing, examinations and education program, was filled by Thomas Hensley.

Liberator, a graduate of Southwestern University School of Law, began his career with the department in 1970 in the Los Angeles district office. He was later promoted to manager of the San Francisco district office and in 1978 was named regional manager of the Northern Regulatory Area.