[1] In 1966, Nealson ran and lost against True Davidson for the mayoralty of the newly formed borough of East York, in a historic election billed by the Canadian media as "The Battle of the Belles".

[1] Born in Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan, she grew up in Hamilton, Ontario,[4] and graduated from McMaster University with a degree in English and history.

[2] Although Nealson opposed the proposed amalgamation,[5] in January 1966, the Ontario government announced its final plan to merge Leaside and the township of East York to form a new municipality the following year.

[2] Her main platform was municipal planning, as she promised to "protect single-family home areas from undesirable intrusion by high density apartments.

[2] Councillor Royden Brigham of East York also joined the mayoral race, hoping to attract anti-Davidson voters.

[2] The national news media including The Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail focused on comparing and contrasting the two female front-runners in the mayoral race.

[2] The Toronto Star noted that Nealson preferred suits and two-piece dresses, while Davidson had a penchant for fancy hats.

[2] Although Brigham paused his campaign, Nealson continued to reach out to voters, saying, "The ratepayers fill the rooms to hear the candidates and to deny them this would be entirely unfair ...

[9] During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Nealson was presented with a pair of shears by East York Mayor True Davidson.