New Editor for Section Named

Merle M. Harpe, deputy suburban editor of The Times for the past two years, will become editor of the South Bay edition Monday.

In her new position she will coordinate news and feature coverage for the South Bay pages, which are published three times weekly.

Since joining The Times in 1978, Harpe has held a variety of editing positions in the paper’s Metro, San Diego and Southeast editions. Previously she was an editor with the Chicago Daily News.

Harpe replaces Gary M. Gorman, who will become director of The Times’ minority editorial training program.