INDIANAPOLIS -- Mayor Bart Peterson talked about Indianapolis as a city on an upward trajectory, but his challenger didn't seem nearly as impressed with the city's direction during a debate Wednesday night.

Peterson, a Democrat and two-term incumbent, faced off with Republican Greg Ballard on issues of crime, property taxes, vacant homes and more during a debate aired on RTV6 and moderated by 6News reporters at the Indiana History Center.

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Analysis: Capitol WatchBlog

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"We've been on an upward trajectory for four decades now, and I think that certainly continued over the course of the last eight years," Peterson said. "We've had an explosion of downtown development and neighborhoods revitalized."

On the issue of vacant homes and illegal gambling houses that plague some neighborhoods, Peterson said the city has set aside money to fix the problem.

"We're able to buy those houses (and) get them rehabbed or else tear them down if it's appropriate," Peterson said.

Ballard didn't buy the argument.

"Something here doesn't add up," Ballard said. "When I go to all of neighborhood association meetings and I talk to the people in all of these neighborhoods -- many of them very scared -- it seems that the number of abandoned homes is increasing right now."

Peterson touted the city's efforts to fight crime, saying the homicide rate has dropped 25 percent over the past year.

Ballard said the city needed to control its spending. The businessman and former Marine said his experience would help Indianapolis cut its budget.

"We are in need of a course correction. We have made a wrong turn, and that's why I'm running for mayor of Indianapolis," Ballard said.

Abdul Hakim Shabazz, political contributor for 6News, said the debate contained no bombshell moments, and if viewers were undecided heading into the event, they may still be that way.

"One thing Ballard did do was for the first time in a long time -- granted 20 days before the election -- finally look mayoral. (He) finally looked like someone who was running for mayor," he said. "The mayor himself, Bart Peterson, he's done this before. No big surprise or shocker there."

Election Day is Nov. 6.