Sarbjeet S. Kumar (born July 14, 1947) is an Indian–American politician and physician. A member of the Republican Party, Kumar, a retired surgeon, has been a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 66th district since 2015, representing Robertson County. He chairs the House Insurance Committee.
Sabi "Doc" Kumar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 66th district | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Joshua Evans |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 14, 1947 British India |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Linda |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence(s) | Springfield, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Miami |
| Occupation | Politician, surgeon |
Medical career
editKumar immigrated to the United States from India in 1970. He completed his medical residency and fellowship working in Miami from 1971 to 1977,[1] when he moved to Springfield, Tennessee, where he continued his career as a surgeon.[2]
Kumar holds the patent for a clamp device, sometimes called the "Kumar clamp", used in gallbladder surgeries.[3]
Political career
editIn 2014, Kumar ran for the Tennessee House of Representatives' 66th district after incumbent Representative Joshua Evans decided to run for the Tennessee Senate. Kumar won the Republican primary on August 7, 2014, with 43% of the vote.[4] On November 4, 2014, Kumar won the General Election unopposed.[5] Kumar was re-elected in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. His current term ends on November 5, 2024.
In 2023, Kumar supported a resolution to expel three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature for violating decorum rules during a pro-gun control protest in the State Capitol Building. The expulsion was widely characterized as unprecedented.[6][7] Prior to his expulsion vote, Democrat Justin Jones accused Kumar of putting a "brown face to white supremacy;" Kumar also stated that Jones had pointed in his face and told him, "Kumar, they will never accept you."[8]
Kumar ran as a pledged delegate for Nikki Haley in the 2024 Tennessee Republican presidential primary.[9]
Committees
editIn the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Kumar did not serve on any committees.
In the 2017 legislative session, Rep. Kumar served on the following committees: Education Instruction and Programs and Health (vice chair).
In the 2019–2020 legislative session, Rep. Kumar served on the following committees: Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and the Health Committee.
In the 2021–2022 legislative session, Rep. Kumar served on the following committees: Calendar and Rules Committee, Health Committee, and the Insurance Committee (chair).
Personal life
editKumar lives in Springfield, Tennessee, with his wife Linda, and has a daughter named Nina. Prior to his retirement from the medical practice, he worked as a surgeon at the NorthCrest Medical Center in Springfield.[1] He is a Methodist.
References
edit- ^ a b "Representative Sabi 'Doc' Kumar". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "About". SabiKumar.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ US patent 5224931, "Method and device for performing cholangiography", published 1993-07-06
- ^ "State of Tennessee, August 7, 2014, Republican Primary" (PDF). Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ "State of Tennessee, November 4, 2014, State General" (PDF). Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ Andone, Dakin; Young, Ryan; Simonson, Amy; Almasy, Steve. "Tennessee's Republican-led House expels 2 Democratic lawmakers over gun reform protest, fails in bid to oust a third". CNN. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Tennessee's House expels 2 of 3 Democrats over guns protest". AP NEWS. April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "Tennessee Republican called 'brown face of White supremacy' by expelled Rep. Justin Jones". Fox News. April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- ^ "Sabi 'Doc' Kumar Committed to Nikki Haley" (PDF).