Heads up to city bigwigs hoping to hop aboard the Vince Gray Reelection Train: you’ll want to get your checkbooks ready for Jan. 29. That’s the day Ward 7 Councilmember and Gray backer Yvette Alexander is throwing a fundraiser for for the mayor, themed around his shutdown policy that “everyone is essential.”

Of course, for a campaign that’s reportedly trying to raise $1 million by the Jan. 31 campaign finance report, rich folks are the most essential of all. Wealthy developers Doug Jemal and Gary Rappaport are listed as co-hosts on the invitation, as are prominent District lobbyists David Wilmot and Rod Woodson.

The party, at the Ward 4 home of D.C. Hospital Association president Robert A. Malson, will also feature trash-talking former fire department spokesman Lon Walls, former Mayor Sharon Pratt, and mayoral frat bro/Maryland superlobbyist Bruce Bereano. $250 suggested minimum donation, no cash or money orders allowed.