By Natalya Bucuy; Correspondent

DOYLESTOWN – Republican attorney Dean Malik of New Britain Township announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District on the steps of the Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown Tuesday.

Malik, 38, is a professional liability attorney with the Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Coggin law firm in Philadelphia. A veteran of the Iraq War, Malik worked in the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2005 as a prosecutor and ultimately as deputy D.A., according to his profile with the law firm.

Malik stood before a crowd of journalists and supporters with his parents, wife Jessica and children Maya, Adam and Sarah. He criticized the ideologies of current Congressman Patrick Murphy (D), the recent medical bill passed by Congress, nationalized healthcare in general and the current conditions of Afghanistan troop reinforcement.

“My campaign is based upon pillars established by our founding fathers,” Malik said. He stressed the importance of “American dream values” such as personal freedom and strong national defense.

“The American dream is still alive, but it is broken,” Malik said. “It is time to bring it back.”

Malik highlighted the significance of the date of his announcement, as Nov. 10 is the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps.

He served one combat tour in Iraq with the Marine Corps’ 6th Engineer Support Battalion (Forward) as adjutant and assistant operations officer, between August 2007 and March 2008, at Camp al Taqaddum in al Anbar Province. Malik's military awards and decorations include two Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War against Terrorism Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Medal, according to his profile.